The First Digital Distribution Expo... "Robert Chicken, Should I Start a Business Too?"

On the 23rd, at the 1st Digital Distribution Expo held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, key guests including Park Jin-gyu, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry, observed the manufacturing process of the chicken robot 'Robert Chicken' at the RoboArte booth. From the left: Vice Minister Park, Lee Je-hoon, CEO of Homeplus, Yoon Sung-ro, Chairman of the 4th Industrial Revolution Committee, and Kim Kyung-man, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Moon Hye-won, Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] "It's truly amazing that a robot makes chicken. The smell was so good that I found myself lining up without realizing it." (Gangnam-gu, Seoul, self-employed person in their 40s, Mr. A)

At 2 p.m. on the 23rd, the smell of freshly roasted chicken began to fill the air at the 1st Digital Distribution Expo held at COEX Exhibition Mall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. ‘Robert Chicken,’ operated by RoboArte, was conducting a tasting event where robot-made chicken was distributed free of charge. Despite eating being prohibited inside the venue, a long line of visitors eager to try the chicken formed. Kang Ji-young, CEO of RoboArte, said, "Because the chicken is prepared by robots, inconveniences such as safety accidents or lingering smells that chefs might experience are reduced, making it a good business item for those considering starting a chicken business."

The event was hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and brought together domestic e-commerce companies, startups, and experts to share the latest technologies and trends in digital distribution. Technologies responsible for the future of the distribution industry after COVID-19, including real-time delivery, unmanned payment systems, and eco-friendly packaging, were all showcased. The robots caught the visitors’ attention. Interest was focused on cleaning robots that roamed the venue to clean regularly, a ‘robot barista’ operating an espresso machine to make drinks, and the autonomous logistics robot ‘Ttareugo.’ When Deputy Minister Park Jin-kyu of the Ministry of Industry operated Ttareugo, it diligently followed him like a puppy following its owner.

SSG.com introduced eco-friendly cooling bags called Albi Bags and microbial ice packs. Instead of dry ice, the microbial ice packs contain water and photosynthetic bacteria (PSB), which, when disposed of in the sewage system, have a water purification effect. They can also be poured into flowerpots to be used as natural fertilizers. Ahn Cheol-min, SSG.com’s SCM Executive Director, explained, "We developed this with the idea of addressing the guilt online shoppers feel about the waste generated when shopping."

After touring the event, Deputy Minister Park said, "We will expand the product standard data, the foundation of the digital distribution industry, to over 3 million items and actively support the digitalization of joint logistics centers and new technology development for small and medium distribution companies." He added, "As digital transformation and innovation in the distribution sector progress rapidly, please also make efforts to uphold the fundamental values of worker safety and consumer protection."