Manufacturing in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang seeks cooperation on ‘AI transformation’

[Financial News] A forum was held to discuss interregional cooperation to expand the adoption of artificial intelligence transformation (AX) in manufacturing in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Busan Regional Office of SMEs and Startups held a roundtable event on the afternoon of the 4th in the Orchid Room at the Westin Josun Busan hotel.

The event was organized to share best practices in manufacturing AX from Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang and discuss challenges at manufacturing sites and ways to cooperate across the regions. The program began with an introduction to the Smart Manufacturing Technology Companies Association, followed by presentations of AX best practices from manufacturers in the southeastern region, an overview of next year’s smart manufacturing innovation policy direction and support programs, and a roundtable on advancing AX in the region.
The presentations of best practices featured examples of companies in Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang applying AI technology at manufacturing sites. GST Co., Ltd., a Busan-based manufacturer, is pursuing work automation by integrating AI agents, vision inspection and autonomous mobile robots into its cloud-based smart factory. 
MIM, a company based in Ulsan, then shared results from applying AI to precision machining processes for automotive parts, including a 16.6% increase in productivity over the previous level and a reduction in the process defect rate from 3.72% to 0.27%. Big Eye Co., Ltd., based in South Gyeongsang, presented an intelligent safety management system that uses video AI to detect and respond in real time to hazardous situations at industrial sites, such as forklift collision risks, workers collapsing and fires.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups outlined next year’s smart manufacturing innovation policy direction and major support programs, including smart factories tailored to manufacturing AI, autonomous factories and physical AI demonstrations. It also explained its policy direction for supporting AI transformation at small and medium-sized manufacturers and fostering the smart manufacturing technology industry.
A roundtable chaired by Lee Cheong-il, head of the Busan Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, was then held to discuss ways to build a physical AI ecosystem in the southeastern region based on the needs of manufacturing sites. Attendees discussed identifying AI applications linked to key local industries—including shipbuilding and marine industries in Busan; automotive, shipbuilding and petrochemicals in Ulsan; and aerospace, defense and precision machinery in South Gyeongsang—as well as the potential for jointly using regional demonstration infrastructure and support programs.
Lee said, “To boost the competitiveness of manufacturing, it is important for AI technology to solve problems on actual production floors and deliver results that companies can see and feel.” He added, “We will work closely with relevant organizations to help AI transformation initiatives among manufacturing companies in the southeastern region expand by linking the industrial strengths of Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang with the capabilities of regional innovation institutions.”
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter