[Exclusive] Government to Lift 'Spider Web Regulations' on Delivery Robots... Pushes for Amendment of Intelligent Robot Act

Announcement of 'Robot Industry Regulatory Innovation Roadmap 2.0' This October
Amendment of Intelligent Robot Act is Key...Legal Status Granted to Delivery Robots
National Policy Coordination Office to Hold Industry Meeting on 26th with Participants Including Woowa Brothers
Road Traffic Act Amendment Also Expected Sooner...Pedestrian Road Use Allowed Within 1-2 Years

The outdoor autonomous delivery robot "Dilly Drive" operated by Woowa Brothers, the operator of "Baedal Minjok." Woowa Brothers have been running a pilot delivery robot service since August 2020 at "Gwanggyo Alley," a residential-commercial complex apartment complex located in Gwanggyo, Suwon.
[Photo by Woowa Brothers]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] In one to two years, delivery robots walking alongside people on sidewalks are expected to become common. This is because the government is pushing to amend the ‘Intelligent Robot Development and Distribution Promotion Act (Intelligent Robot Act)’ to foster the delivery robot industry. The government's initiative to amend the Intelligent Robot Act is a response to Asia Economy’s criticism regarding delivery robot regulations. Since the second half of last year, our publication has consistently pointed out that overlapping regulations have been hindering innovation in delivery robots.

According to industry sources on the 21st, the government plans to announce the 'Robot Industry Regulatory Innovation Roadmap 2.0' as early as this October. Previously, in 2020, the government introduced the ‘Robot Industry Regulatory Innovation Roadmap’ to resolve regulations related to robots. The Office for Government Policy Coordination (OGPC), which oversees the roadmap, began reviewing Roadmap 2.0 last November by gathering related ministries such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the National Police Agency.

Currently, the OGPC is reportedly drafting the outline of the new roadmap in coordination with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The OGPC plans to complete coordination with related ministries and finalize the draft of Roadmap 2.0 by the first half of this year. A government official stated, “There is a consensus that delivery robots have reached a level of technological commercialization, and if regulations are lifted, the market is likely to open,” adding, “The OGPC is also understood to have a strong will to ease regulations.”

Granting Legal Status to Delivery Robots

The core issue is the amendment of the Intelligent Robot Act. The recently reviewed Roadmap 2.0 includes a plan to amend the Intelligent Robot Act to clearly define the legal status of autonomous delivery robots. The current Intelligent Robot Act only provides a general definition of ‘intelligent robots.’ The broad definition in the current law is criticized for its limitations, as it does not consider the individual characteristics of various industries where robots are utilized.

Delivery robots, which cannot travel on sidewalks, are a representative example. Delivery robots travel at speeds of 5 to 6 km/h, similar to the average walking speed of an adult, but are classified as automobiles under the Road Traffic Act, which prohibits them from using sidewalks. The current Road Traffic Act dichotomously categorizes road users as pedestrians or automobiles, which the industry views as unsuitable for regulating new industries such as robots.

Accordingly, the government intends to specify the legal status of delivery robots in the current law. It is also considering presenting specific legal guidelines by referring to advanced countries’ cases. A major reference is the ‘Personal Delivery Device Act (PDDA)’ implemented in some U.S. states. The PDDA grants legal status to delivery robots and regulates their operating areas, weight, speed, and other factors in detail.

A roundtable to gather industry opinions will also be held. On the 26th of this month, the OGPC will host a meeting chaired by Deputy Director Yoon Seong-wook, involving related ministries such as the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Personal Information Protection Commission, along with delivery robot industry representatives. Startups such as Woowa Brothers, which was the first in Korea to develop delivery robots, and Newbility will also participate.

Delivery robot startup Newbility operates a delivery robot service at the 7-Eleven Seocho I-Park store in Seocho-gu, Seoul. According to domestic regulations, a person must accompany delivery robots operating outdoors for safety reasons. The photo shows Newbility's delivery robot 'Newbee' and an on-site staff member.
Photo by Joonhyung Lee

Sidewalk Operation to be Allowed Within 1-2 Years

Amendments to the Road Traffic Act are also expected to proceed faster than originally planned. Initially, the government announced in the first roadmap that it would amend the Road Traffic Act by 2025 to allow delivery robots to operate on sidewalks. However, in Roadmap 2.0, advancing the amendment deadline to 2023?2024 is being seriously considered.

The regulation requiring a person to accompany delivery robots is also likely to be eased. To operate delivery robot pilot services under the regulatory sandbox in Korea, one on-site staff member had to be assigned per delivery robot. This is because current regulations mandate that a person must accompany delivery robots during external operations. Some companies faced business expansion constraints due to labor cost burdens for on-site staff. An industry insider said, “There is great anticipation for the government’s regulatory easing policy,” adding, “Removing the obligation to assign on-site staff alone could significantly reduce cost burdens.”