South Korea’s logistics industry is beginning to test the next phase of warehouse automation — humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence.
LG CNS and Kurly are launching a joint project aimed at deploying AI-based humanoid robots inside real logistics centers to evaluate operational efficiency and automation capabilities in live warehouse environments.
According to industry sources on Sunday, the two companies recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on smart logistics center development and robotic automation technologies. Unlike conventional warehouse automation projects centered on fixed equipment, the new collaboration focuses on integrating AI-driven robotics directly into day-to-day logistics operations.
A major focus of the project is a pilot program involving humanoid robots at Kurly’s fulfillment centers. The companies plan to test how robots can handle repetitive or physically demanding tasks while analyzing their impact on workflow efficiency and operational stability.
Industry sources say the pilot will explore various warehouse scenarios, including product transportation, sorting operations, and picking assistance. While existing automation systems are typically optimized for repetitive, structured tasks, humanoid robots are attracting attention for their ability to perform more flexible and complex physical work in dynamic environments.
LG CNS plans to expand the capabilities of its robot operation platform, “PhysicalWorks,” which is designed to manage robot control, learning systems, and operational optimization. The company intends to use real-time warehouse data to analyze movement routes, task accuracy, and execution speed in order to develop logistics-specific AI operating models.
Kurly, known for its fresh food dawn-delivery service, has accumulated large-scale logistics data through years of operating temperature-sensitive delivery systems. As the company expands beyond groceries into beauty, fashion, and lifestyle products, warehouse operations have become increasingly complex — creating stronger demand for AI-based automation technologies.
The two companies also plan to strengthen integration between warehouse automation equipment and operational management systems. Their goal is to connect the entire logistics process — from inbound storage to picking and outbound shipping — through unified data-driven operations.
Particular attention is being placed on mixed logistics environments where refrigerated, frozen, and room-temperature products must be handled simultaneously. Maintaining stable automation performance under those conditions remains one of the industry’s biggest technical challenges.
LG CNS has already participated in the construction and digital infrastructure development of several Kurly logistics centers, allowing the company to accumulate operational experience in large-scale fulfillment systems. Industry analysts say the latest partnership could significantly expand LG CNS’s presence in the growing robotics-based logistics automation market.
Experts believe the collaboration may also accelerate broader structural changes across South Korea’s logistics sector, where labor shortages and rising operational costs are pushing companies to seek new forms of AI-powered automation.
“In the past, warehouse automation focused mainly on machinery and fixed systems,” one logistics industry official said. “Now the industry is rapidly evolving toward intelligent operational models where AI and robotics work together. If humanoid robots begin operating effectively in real logistics environments, the structure of the retail and logistics industry itself could change significantly.”
