Balancing between tech and labor

 Based on the sources provided, here is the full text of the article titled "Balance tech advancement with job creation" from The Korea Times:

ED | Balance tech advancement with job creation Hyundai Motor labor union protests announced deployment of humanoid robots Published Jan 23, 2026 3:41 pm KST | Updated Jan 23, 2026 4:34 pm KST

By issuing an official statement against employing humanoid robots at its plants, Hyundai Motor's massive labor union has pushed the possible friction between human and robot labor squarely into the public eye, an issue that many had not expected to arrive so soon. It is a good time to consider the future configuration of the labor market, which is already being influenced by artificial intelligence (AI).

“The introduction of AI robots is clearly aimed at cutting labor costs,” the union said in a statement on Thursday. “The union warns that not a single robot can be deployed at worksites without an agreement between labor and management”.

The union was referring to Atlas, a humanoid robot revealed at the CES tech fair earlier this month in Las Vegas. Made by Boston Dynamics, Atlas dazzled investors and observers with its ability to turn 360 degrees and lift up to 50 kilograms. It was clearly positioned as a future growth engine for the company and a moment to celebrate human progress in technology, however naively.

Hyundai Motor Group announced that it will deploy Atlas robots to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in the U.S. state of Georgia by 2028, with a plan to produce 30,000 units annually leading up to deployment.

Spurred on by anticipation, shares of Hyundai Motor rose, propelling it to become South Korea's third most valuable company this month. As investors, whatever the amount, workers who also have invested in Hyundai shares must feel split between the rise of share prices and the declining perspective of job stability. It's a dilemma that ensnares most workers in the tech-driven era.

The carmaker has not made public any plans for deployment at domestic plants in Korea, but the labor union is arguing both against the potential of humanoid robots being used at domestic plants, and that increased production at HMGMA would mean decreased production in Korea and result in a decline in local jobs.

In response, the carmaker said that the robots will concentrate mainly on repetitive and dangerous tasks human workers might want to avoid. It stressed that humanoid robots will improve labor efficiency.

The union is not buying it. “Under no circumstances will workers welcome the plan, as robot deployment will cause a huge employment shock,” the union said.

The average annual salary at Hyundai Motor and its related affiliates is estimated at around 130 million won ($88,599). Atlas, while currently priced at around $130,000 per unit, requires an estimated 14 million won for annual maintenance. Daily working time can reach up to 16 hours. The union is contending that the company will increasingly tilt toward the use of humanoid robot labor, which does not come with costs such as employee welfare and insurance benefits.

Progress in the field of physical AI has come very far in a very short amount of time. Investors are rallying behind Nvidia's self-driving automobiles and Tesla's robot taxis, as well as its humanoid robot Optimus. Chinese robot manufacturers are developing rapidly and reducing per unit production costs. The arrival of humanoid robots on factory floors may well be here. Instead of the militant battles of the past, the task for the company and the labor union will be to seek a win-win path, embracing technological advancement while continuing to create jobs.