K-Now – VIBE KR

As of July 21, 2026, Samsung Electronics has launched a new robot division that reports directly to the CEO's office, with Device eXperience (DX) division head Noh Tae-moon taking on leadership of the unit himself. Humanoid robots — human-shaped machines — are the top priority, and Samsung is consolidating scattered robotics hardware and software teams to speed up commercialization.

56 trillion won (~$40B)Goldman Sachs' projected size of the global humanoid robot market by 2035

88%Share of humanoid robots launched worldwide last year that were made in China

$5 trillionMorgan Stanley's forecast for the maximum size of the global humanoid market by 2050

2030Samsung's target year for fully automating its domestic and overseas production plants

Key points

Samsung Electronics has set up a robot-dedicated division reporting directly to the CEO's office, with DX division head Noh Tae-moon serving as its concurrent leader.
The company plans to first validate humanoid technology on its own factory floors before gradually expanding into the broader market.
A new facility for handling robot training data will be built at the Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province plant.
Former Hyundai Motor Group personnel and university professors specializing in robotics research are joining the new division.

Samsung Electronics is reorganizing to turn robotics into its next major growth engine. On July 21, the company announced it has formed a new robot-dedicated division led personally by Noh Tae-moon, co-CEO and head of the Device eXperience (DX) division. The reshuffle's core aim: consolidate hardware, AI, software, and product planning staff — previously scattered across multiple departments — under a single chain of command.

The new division's first target is the humanoid robot — machines built to move and function like humans. Samsung's approach is to deploy robots in industrial settings, like its own factories, to prove out performance first, then gradually expand into other markets. To feed that effort, the company plans to build a dedicated data-processing facility at its Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province plant to handle field data used for training the robots. R&D staff will be consolidated at the Woomyeon-dong campus in Seocho, Seoul, with additional hubs planned in the US, China, and Japan — countries at the forefront of robotics technology.

Talent recruitment is in full swing. Lee Dong-gun, a vice president with deep ties to Boston Dynamics through his time at Hyundai Motor Group, has been tapped to lead robotics strategy. He'll be joined by Seoul National University professor Kim Hyun-jin, known for research on autonomous robot navigation systems, and Ajou University professor Kim Eui-kyum, an authority in precision control for components like robotic hands — bringing together academic and industry expertise.

Market forecasts are bolstering the bet. Goldman Sachs expects the global humanoid robot market to swell into the tens of trillions of won by 2035, while Morgan Stanley projects an even larger figure by 2050. Still, most humanoid robots launched worldwide last year were made in China, meaning Samsung — a relative latecomer — has real ground to make up.

Samsung first built out a robotics push in late 2024 with its acquisition of domestic robot maker Rainbow Robotics, and this reorganization marks the next step toward commercialization. The company has also set a goal of fully automating its production plants at home and abroad by 2030.

In Korea right nowIn Korea, the reorganization is drawing attention as part of a broader robotics race across the electronics industry. LG Electronics set up its own CEO-direct robotics division just last month, setting up a head-to-head contest between the two conglomerates to make robotics their next growth pillar. With Hyundai Motor Group already building a presence in the robotics market through Boston Dynamics, observers say the competition among Korea's biggest companies for robotics leadership is only intensifying.

FAQ

What does Samsung's new robot division actually do?

It brings together robotics-related hardware, AI, software, and product planning functions that were previously spread across different departments, overseeing the company's push to commercialize robotics.

Why is Samsung focusing on humanoids?

The market for human-shaped robots is expected to grow rapidly alongside advances in AI. Samsung plans to validate the technology on its own factory floors first, then scale up from there.

Who are the notable new hires in this reorganization?

Vice President Lee Dong-gun, who worked on matters related to robotics company Boston Dynamics during his time at Hyundai Motor Group, has moved over to lead robotics strategy, and two university professors specializing in robotics are also joining.