[Interview] Korea-China Humanoid Competition... Unitree: "Why Do Robots Box? Extreme Testing"

Interviews with Leading Humanoid Robot Companies from Korea and China
Unitree of China: "Commercialization in Homes is the Ultimate Goal"
Aerobot: "Korea Will Not Settle for Second Place"

"Our ultimate goal is to have robots working alongside people in the home. Within the next 5 to 10 years, robots will become essential assistants for humans."

At CES 2026, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, which concluded on January 9 (local time), Gary Xia, Marketing Manager at Unitree Robotics, a leading Chinese robotics company, shared his outlook on the future of humanoid robots.

The biggest topic at this year's CES was undoubtedly humanoid robots equipped with "Physical AI." Amid the technological rivalry between the United States and China, Korean companies also stepped up, aiming to lead innovation in manufacturing environments.

Unitree of China: "Boxing is the ultimate test... Targeting the market through cost-effectiveness"

On the 6th (local time), robot G1 is demonstrating boxing at the Unitary booth in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) during CES 2026 in the United States. Photo by Park Junyi.

At this year's exhibition, Unitree Robotics showcased its bipedal robot "G1," which is capable of AI learning. G1 captivated visitors with dynamic performances such as boxing and dancing at the booth.

The reason Unitree taught its robot to box was not simply to provide a spectacle, but to test the limits of "practicality." Xia explained, "For humanoid robots to be deployed in real factories and homes, they must be able to handle all rough movements in human environments," adding, "Boxing is a kind of test that pushes robots into extreme work environments."

He especially emphasized the importance of "mobility" and "stabilization," which are demonstrated through boxing. The key to commercialization, he said, is how quickly the robot can get back up after taking a hit or losing balance and falling down. Leveraging its overwhelming price competitiveness at just over 20 million won, Unitree will begin full-scale customer deliveries of the G1 starting in April.

Regarding the global robotics competition, Xia said, "We welcome all companies from the United States, China, and Korea developing and building their own robots. We believe each will have very different designs and use cases. We welcome all advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, and we hope to achieve progress in this field together with companies around the world."

When asked whether Unitree's robotics business is currently profitable, he replied, "Humanoid robots have not yet brought profits to companies globally," adding, "The humanoid robot business is still in a very early stage, but I believe it will definitely become profitable once robots play roles in homes and factories."

Aerobot of Korea: "Starting with the most practical approach"

Eom Yunseol, CEO of Aerobot, gave an interview to The Asia Business Daily on the 6th (local time) at the Unitary booth in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) during CES 2026 in the United States. Photo by Park Juni.

While China is knocking on the door of the home market with versatile movement, Korea is taking a "practical approach" with robots that can be immediately deployed in manufacturing settings. Korea has launched a joint response through "K-Alliance Max," led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. At this CES, Aerobot, a leading Korean robotics company, presented a blueprint for manufacturing innovation by demonstrating "Alice M1" moving items on a factory conveyor belt.

Eom Yunseol, CEO of Airobot, demonstrated Airobot's Alice M1 moving items in a factory at the Humanoid Alliance joint booth of 'K-Alliance Max' in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) during CES 2026 on the 6th (local time). Photo by Park Joonyi.

Eom Yunseol, CEO of Aerobot, emphasized, "Rather than simply following the United States and China, Korea needs its own practical approach." Alice M1 has localized 60% of its components to build a stable supply chain and has been recognized for its technological capabilities as a partner of Nvidia. Aerobot is currently conducting proof-of-concept (PoC) projects with several companies and plans to begin full-scale deployment of robots in actual manufacturing sites starting in 2027, beginning with an initial batch of 20 units this year.

Eom also commented on the recent entry of major companies such as LG Electronics and Hyundai Motor into the robotics market, calling it "very encouraging," and predicted, "The ecosystem of the Korean robotics industry will rapidly expand through practical approaches."