{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/kist-researcher-lee-jong-won-wins-korea-science-award-for-kapex-humano","json":"https://digestai.news/story/kist-researcher-lee-jong-won-wins-korea-science-award-for-kapex-humano.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/kist-researcher-lee-jong-won-wins-korea-science-award-for-kapex-humano.md","slug":"kist-researcher-lee-jong-won-wins-korea-science-award-for-kapex-humano","headline":"KIST researcher Lee Jong-won wins Korea Science Award for KAPEX humanoid","summary":"South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea awarded Lee Jong-won of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology the November Korea Science and Technology Award on November 4, 2026. The monthly honor recognizes original achievements over the preceding three years and includes a Deputy Prime Minister's citation and 10 million won.\n\nLee developed KAPEX, an AI humanoid built with domestic core technologies. The ministry reports the robot combines domestically developed actuators, skeletal and joint mechanisms, sensors and AI. Its compact actuator delivers up to 300 newton-meters of torque within a human-scale joint, and a seven-degree-of-freedom leg structure enables walking with loads above 20 kilograms. Integrated optimization more than doubled whole-body energy efficiency over the team's earlier system. Fingertips detect contact and applied force for grip adjustment, and the AI combines visual, tactile and spoken input for movement decisions.\n\nLocalization exceeds 90% for core components including actuators, hands and sensing devices. KIST transferred major KAPEX technology to LG Electronics in September 2025, forming a consortium that assigns the robot platform to LG Electronics, physical AI to LG AI Research, all-solid-state batteries to LG Energy Solution and mass production to Robostar. Testing continues in living labs simulating kitchens and living rooms, with longer trials planned in hospitals and public facilities. Lee identifies long-duration autonomous judgment, whole-body manipulation, battery life, durability, safety and cost as unresolved requirements.","keyPoints":["Lee Jong-won of KIST wins November Korea Science and Technology Award for KAPEX humanoid","KAPEX uses domestic actuators delivering 300 Nm torque and walks with 20 kg loads","KIST transferred KAPEX tech to LG Electronics consortium in September 2025"],"whyItMatters":"The award recognizes both engineering advances in domestic humanoid hardware and AI control, and an industrial handoff to a major Korean consortium for commercialization.","category":{"slug":"robotics","name":"Robotics & Physical AI","url":"https://digestai.news/category/robotics"},"entities":{"companies":["Korea Institute of Science and Technology","LG Electronics","LG AI Research","LG Energy Solution","Robostar","WIRobotics"],"models":["KAPEX"],"people":["Lee Jong-won"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-11-04T09:54:03Z","updatedAt":"2026-11-04T09:54:03Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"Unite.AI","title":"KIST’s Lee Jong-Won Wins Korea Science Award for KAPEX Humanoid","url":"https://unite.ai/kists-lee-jong-won-wins-korea-science-award-for-kapex-humanoid","publishedAt":"2026-11-04T09:54:03Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"KIST researcher Lee Jong-won wins Korea Science Award for KAPEX humanoid\", 4 November 2026, https://digestai.news/story/kist-researcher-lee-jong-won-wins-korea-science-award-for-kapex-humano","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"KIST researcher Lee Jong-won wins Korea Science Award for KAPEX humanoid","datePublished":"2026-11-04T09:54:03Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/kist-researcher-lee-jong-won-wins-korea-science-award-for-kapex-humano"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}