# Hanwha Ocean taps KIRO to develop shipyard humanoid robots

*The state robotics institute will test physical AI and autonomous systems at the Geoje yard as South Korean shipbuilders race to automate heavy assembly lines.*

**Published:** October 1, 2026  
**By:** So-yeon Jung  
**Section:** Robotics & Automation — South Korea  
**Format:** Breaking  
**Confidence:** medium  
**Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/robotics/hanwha-ocean-taps-kiro-develop-shipyard-humanoid-robots-467  
**Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/)

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## What to know

- Hanwha Ocean and KIRO signed an MOU on Sept. 30 to test shipyard humanoids
- Geoje yard currently automates 67% of indoor welding but only 8.6% of outdoor work
- Validation roadmap formulation begins this quarter; separate trial ends June 2027

![A shipyard worker watches an industrial humanoid robot position its arms against a large steel plate inside an assembly hall. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-10-01-29f295e0f536.webp)
*A shipyard worker watches an industrial humanoid robot position its arms against a large steel plate inside an assembly hall. (AI-generated image)*

The Korea Institute of Robotics & Technology Convergence said Oct. 1 it agreed to develop industrial humanoid robots with shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean to automate heavy assembly at its Geoje shipyard.

The state-backed research institute, known as KIRO, develops specialized automation hardware for hazardous industrial settings. Hanwha Ocean operates one of the world's largest commercial shipyards, constructing liquefied natural gas carriers and naval vessels.

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Cite as: East Asia Brief, "Hanwha Ocean taps KIRO to develop shipyard humanoid robots," October 1, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/robotics/hanwha-ocean-taps-kiro-develop-shipyard-humanoid-robots-467