[Anchor Commentary]
This is the fifth installment of the special series “Challenge K-Startup,” jointly presented by MBN and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA).
The era has arrived in which robots can assist people in carrying and moving heavy loads.
Reporter Joo Jin-hee visited a company that is shaping collaboration between humans and robots.
 

[Reporter]
As soon as an elderly worker arrives at a woodworking shop, he puts on a device.

He easily carries wooden boards as well as boxes that appear quite heavy.

This is a so-called “wearable robot,” which assists the wearer’s lower back and muscle strength when lifting heavy objects.

Originally developed as an exoskeleton to enhance soldiers’ combat capabilities, the technology is now being applied in industrial worksites.
 

▶ Interview: Jang Jae-ho / CEO, FRT Robotics
“At first, we developed exoskeletons for specialized professions such as defense and firefighting. But we wanted to support people in industrial environments who perform physically demanding work for long hours, so they can work without developing musculoskeletal disorders…”

Wearable robots do more than simply assist physical labor.

As more people wear the devices and work for extended periods, human movement data is accumulated—data that can serve as a foundation for physical AI and humanoid robots.
 

▶ Interview: Kim Bong-jun / Senior Manager, Technology Innovation Team, R&D Support Division, Seoul Business Agency
“We believe this company is one of the most leading robot firms in the wearable robot field, with outstanding technological capabilities…”

The global wearable robot market continues to grow steadily, with projections estimating it will reach approximately KRW 19 trillion by 2033.