Deputy Prime Minister Paik Jonghun Visits Korea Atomic Energy Hospital
with Robots Made by Korean Technology
On the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24, laughter filled the hospital rooms at the Korea Atomic Energy Hospital in Nowon-gu, Seoul. Santa Claus, Rudolph the reindeer, and a sleigh instantly transformed the atmosphere of the hospital. The rooms, once heavy with the weight of cancer treatment, briefly became scenes from a Christmas fairy tale.
On the 24th, at the Korea Atomic Energy Hospital, a quadruped robot created by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology transformed into 'Rodolph' and held an event comforting pediatric cancer patients together with Paik Jonghun, Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology and Minister of Science and ICT. Photo by Korea Atomic Energy Hospital
Santa and Rudolph were not what they seemed. Santa was Paek Jongmin, Minister of Science and ICT and Deputy Prime Minister for Science and Technology. When 'Santa' Deputy Prime Minister Paek appeared, all eyes turned to him. Then, as the true identities of Rudolph and the sleigh were revealed, exclamations of surprise erupted throughout the hospital. All of them were robots created with Korean science and technology.
The role of Rudolph was played by a quadruped walking robot developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), which was even given the name 'Rodolfo' for the occasion. The sleigh was represented by an unmanned vehicle developed by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials. Also present was a rehabilitation robot (wearable robot) from Angel Robotics, designed to help patients with mobility issues walk again.
Paik Kang-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, visited the Nuclear Medicine Hospital in Nowon-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th, dressed as Santa Claus, delivering Christmas presents brought by the 'Rodolph' robot to pediatric cancer patients. Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT
Deputy Prime Minister Paek personally handed out gifts brought by the robot to pediatric and adolescent cancer patients (osteosarcoma patients), making eye contact with the children. The children in the hospital rooms smiled brightly as they hugged their presents and gazed at the robots. Deputy Prime Minister Paek also delivered gifts to children at the hospital's workplace daycare center, creating a brief but special memory for them.
Parents and medical staff visiting the hospital also momentarily set aside their worries and shared in the children's laughter. One parent commented, "Someone we rarely get to meet created an unforgettable memory for our child fighting illness, together with the robot," expressing their gratitude.
The Korea Atomic Energy Hospital, where this event took place, is a public hospital specializing in cancer treatment under the Ministry of Science and ICT. It has played a crucial role in the national cancer treatment system, conducting cancer treatment and research based on radiation and nuclear technology. In this space where cancer is treated through science and technology, robots created by science and technology delivered hope and comfort to the children.
Baek Goon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT (center back), dressed as Santa Claus, visited the workplace daycare center at the Nuclear Medicine Hospital in Nowon-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th, and took a commemorative photo with the children and the quadruped robot "Rodolfo." Photo by Ministry of Science and ICT
The Ministry of Science and ICT explained that the event was organized to convey the message that cutting-edge science and technology are expanding beyond laboratories and industrial sites into the realms of social solidarity and care. It has been evaluated as an example showing that the future shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and robots-so-called physical AI-can extend beyond industry and the economy to everyday life and humanity. It was a symbolic moment demonstrating that science can treat cancer and that robots can contribute to humanity.
Deputy Prime Minister Paek also shared his thoughts, saying, "I hope this was a warm moment that allowed patients and families, who must be exhausted from fighting illness and caregiving, to smile even if just for a while."
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