Korean union warns of job losses from Hyundai's humanoid robot plan

The Korean union movement has warned of potential labor market risks stemming from automaker Hyundai Motor's plans to increase the use of humanoid robots in its production and beyond, reported Reuters. Union representatives expressed concern that deploying such robots could lead to worker substitution effects, calling the plan a potential threat to job security if human labor is displaced by fully automated systems. While Hyundai emphasizes its ambition to combine manufacturing expertise and artificial intelligence to open new technological fields, unions argue a rapid shift to humanoid robotics could significantly harm employment opportunities in traditional production sectors, insisting clear safeguards for workers must be established first. The dispute highlights the transforming world of work amid automation and how labor representatives are responding to the challenges of new technologies