President Yoon Suk Yeol visited Hyundai Motor's electronic vehicle (EV) facility in Singapore on Tuesday and emphasized the need for innovation through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Yoon was accompanied by Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung to Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore in the Jurong Innovation District on the second day of his three-day visit to the nation. Opened in November 2023, the seven-story building spans 86,900 square meters and has the capacity to produce up to 30,000 EVs annually, including models such as the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 5 robotaxis. It utilizes robotics and AI to automate nearly half of the manufacturing process and adopts digital technology for a "digital twin factory" based on a virtual platform. "Ford's assembly line from 100 years ago and Toyota's just-in-time production from 50 years ago are often cited as significant innovations in the history of vehicles, but now Hyundai Motor's way is leading a new wave of innova tion," Yoon said. "The innovation system that starts here will become the leading model for future factories that integrate AI into manufacturing. I am confident that it will soon spread to all industrial sectors, including semiconductors, shipbuilding and secondary batteries," he added. Last month, Yoon launched a national AI committee and called for collaborative efforts to position South Korea among the top three AI leaders globally by 2027. During the committee's first meeting, Korean companies pledged to invest a combined 65 trillion won (US$48.9 billion) in AI development in the next three years. Singapore ranked third in Tortoise Media's Global AI Index for 2024, trailing only the United States and China, while South Korea took sixth place in the index. Source: Yonhap News Agency
Myanmar Clears Path for Junta Leader to Become President
March 30, 2026