Busan is good

Busan to Host the “15th Busan Robot Competition 2025”

내용

The 15th Busan Robot Competition 2025, a robotics contest aimed at expanding the base of the robotics industry—core to the Fourth Industrial Revolution—and nurturing future talent, will be held for two days starting August 2.

Since its first edition in 2010, this annual competition is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRO), with support from the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education.

New this year, Dongmyung University’s Marine Robot Education and Technology Lab and the “R-WeSET” program of the National Pukyong National University (PKNU) have joined the organizing team, adding further expertise to the event. Other partners include the Intelligent Robotics Innovation & Convergence Project Group (PKNU), Busan Robot Teachers’ Association, and the Elementary School SW Education Research Association.

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Competition Details:

• ●Participants: 335 elementary, middle, and high school teams (approx. 640 students) and 10 university teams (20 female STEM students)

• ●Divisions & Events:

• ○Elementary School (4 categories): Robot Curling, Robot Castle Siege, Robot Escape Room, Elementary Hackathon

• ○Middle & High School (3 categories): AIoT (AI + IoT), Silver Tech Makerthon, AI Robot Creative Design, AI Autonomous Driving Car

• ○University (1 category): Marine Robot Challenge (female STEM students only)

• ●Experience Events for Children & Families (3 categories): Traditional Korean games with robots – “Ttakji” flipping, “Biseok” stone toss, and “Tuho” arrow throwing

Winners in each category will be awarded prizes, including the Mayor of Busan’s Award.

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Special Note:

The Marine Robot Challenge, previously held as an independent event at Dongmyung University’s Marine Robot Hall, has now been incorporated into the official Busan Robot Competition to enhance synergy and support future expansion.

Given the need for a large water tank for this category, the Marine Robot Challenge will take place at Dongmyung University and be livestreamed in real time via a dual broadcasting system to the main stage at BEXCO.

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Side Events:

To further promote public interest in robotics, additional programs will be held, including:

• ●A special lecture by Professor Han Jae-kwon (Department of Robotics, Hanyang University) titled:

  “An Era Where Robots Think and Humans Ask Questions”
  The talk will offer insights into the future of human-robot coexistence in an engaging and accessible manner for youth.

• ●Hands-on coding and robot programming booths for children and families

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Opening Ceremony:

• ●Date/Time: Saturday, August 2, 2025, 10:30–11:30 AM

• ●Location: BEXCO Exhibition Center II, 1F, 4D Hall (APEC Room 55)

• ●Attendees: Director General of High-Tech Industry Bureau (Busan), Chair of the City Council Planning and Finance Committee, Regional Head of KIRO, President of the Busan Robotics Industry Association, Director of PKNU Intelligent Robot Program, and Director of Busan Future Industry Research Institute (approx. 40 attendees)

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For detailed rules and participation guidelines, please visit the official competition website:
👉 www.busanrobotcom.or.kr

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Quote from Busan City Official:
Park Dong-seok, Director General of the High-Tech Industry Bureau, stated:

“This competition will be a valuable opportunity for youth to cultivate scientific literacy and creative thinking through hands-on experience.
In particular, the experience-based categories that involve parents will offer a great chance for families to engage with and better understand robotics together.”

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Appendix 1: Event Overview

• ●Dates: August 2–3, 2025 (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM)

• ●Venues: BEXCO Exhibition Center II – 4D Hall / Dongmyung University’s MakingWorkSpace & Marine Robot Hall

• ●Hosted by: Busan Metropolitan City

• ●Organized by: Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRO)

• ●Participants: Approx. 1,000 total (including 335 teams and public participants)

• ●Program Categories:

• ○Competition (Elementary, Middle/High, University)

• ○Experience Events (Traditional Korean robot games)

• ○Special Lecture & Coding Booths

Appendix 2: Opening Ceremony Overview

• ●Date/Time: Saturday, August 2, 2025, 10:30–11:30 AM

• ●Location: BEXCO 4D Hall (APEC Room 55)

• ●Expected Guests: ~40 officials and partners in robotics industry and academia

Appendix 3: Event Poster