[Interview] "Robotics Instead of Medical School"... Hurobotics Bets on Korean Technology as Its Wearable Robots Prepare for U.S. Entry

Interview with Ki Wook Lee, CEO of Hurobotics
Challenge for Medical Device Certification in Korea and the U.S.
Supplying Hospitals Possible Upon Certification
Inevitable Competition with China
"Confident That Core Technology Is Hard to Copy"

For Ki Wook Lee, CEO of the startup Hurobotics?which develops robotic suits for rehabilitation?the next 11 months will be a critical turning point.

The company’s wearable robot products are scheduled to undergo Class II medical device certification tests by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in September. After passing these tests, the company aims to challenge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certification test in March next year, seeking entry into the global market. If certified as medical devices in both Korea and the United States, Hurobotics will be able to supply its robots to renowned hospitals in both countries. Wearable robots are devices worn on the human body to augment insufficient muscle strength or reduce the risk of injury, thereby helping users overcome physical limitations. They are widely used in rehabilitation therapy for people with disabilities or patients who have lost the ability to walk due to unexpected accidents or illnesses.

Ki Wook Lee, CEO of Hurobotics, is being interviewed on the 22nd at the startup incubation center laboratory of Chung-Ang University in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

In a recent interview with Asia Economy at the robot development lab in the startup incubation center at Chung-Ang University’s Seoul campus, Lee emphasized, “Safety is absolutely crucial in medical device certification. If even a single patient wearing our robot were to fall, it would be a serious problem. That’s why we are making every effort to ensure the safety of our robots is as close to 100% as possible.”

Lee is an expert who has spent 15 years researching robots, combining his experience as a graduate student, researcher, and company CEO. After earning a Ph.D. in engineering from Seoul National University, he conducted robotics research at his alma mater, Harvard University in the United States, and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology. Initially focused on robot design, Lee began full-scale development of wearable robots during his tenure as a researcher at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences from 2016 to 2017. There, he learned about wearable robots, research and development methods, and management from Professor Conor Walsh, a renowned scholar in the field. Professor Walsh is credited with developing the first “exosuit,” an exoskeleton device that assists the wearer’s movements, and is regarded as one of the founders of wearable robotics. In July 2022, Lee founded the startup Hurobotics. He now leads a team of 20 employees as a startup CEO and guides 17 students aspiring to become roboticists as a university professor.

Lee’s unique choices have made his current achievements possible. During high school, he repeatedly heard from his parents that they hoped he would become a doctor. However, Lee had a different dream growing inside him: medical robots. “I wanted to enter engineering and develop medical robots to save many people,” Lee recalled. Ultimately, he set aside his parents’ wishes and enrolled in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University.

Ki Wook Lee, CEO of Hurobotics, poses with a wearable robot at the startup incubation center laboratory of Chung-Ang University in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd. Photo by Jin Hyung Kang

Lee explained, “Unlike other industries led by individuals with insight into a single core technology, robotics is a ‘system integration (SI)’ field driven by the diligent efforts of many people. To produce a complete robot, various hardware and software components must be integrated. This process requires diligence, sincerity, and a cooperative attitude. Korea, with its collective strength, is uniquely suited to excel in this area.”

Regarding wearable robots, he said, “This is a field that is just beginning to shine.” He continued, “Artificial intelligence (AI) initially provided us with information, then began making recommendations, and now even takes actions like placing orders. While these developments have occurred in virtual spaces, they are now moving into the real world. That is ‘physical AI.’ Robots are naturally gaining attention as the means to achieve this. After the emergence of humanoids as the ideal form and the rise of commercial robots for logistics and delivery, it is now time for wearable robots to be in the spotlight.”

Lee also noted that competition with China in the field of wearable robots is inevitable. China is strengthening its position by launching numerous new wearable robot products every year. According to statistics from the Huajing Industrial Research Institute, the Chinese wearable robot market is expected to grow by 25% annually and exceed $300 million by 2027. The number of wearable robot patent applications in China surged from 24 in 2014 to 258 in 2021, indicating rapid growth. However, Lee predicted, “The core technology of wearable robots, the exosuit, is difficult to copy, so it will not be easy for China to quickly close the technological gap.” The exosuit uses wires to pull and contract muscles required for walking, whereas current Chinese products utilize electric motors to move joints?a lower-level technology, according to Lee.

Looking ahead, Lee emphasized that “robust support and an educational system that can nurture outstanding talent” are essential for the success of Korean robotics companies. He stated, “Government support is currently focused on research and development (R&D), but like China and other countries, it should shift toward revitalizing the domestic market. A vibrant domestic market where products are actively used provides companies with more opportunities to test their products in real-world settings and thus improve their technological capabilities.” He also pointed out the need to reconsider and overhaul the education system at the middle and high school levels, as well as in universities. Based on his own experience teaching at the university, Lee observed, “Many students now enter university without knowledge of basic subjects like calculus and vectors, which are essential for design courses. I feel that fundamental education is being neglected. We need to reflect on why more companies are directly taking on the task of nurturing talent themselves.”