In the quiet town of Gumi, in the heart of South Korea, a shadow of mystery has hung over it since one of its most unusual members, a robot civil servant dedicated to administrative tasks, tragically died, reports
The Parisian. This robot, developed by the Californian company Bear Robotics, was not only a full employee since his appointment in August 2023but also a symbol of technological advancement in a country renowned for its commitment to robotics.
Since its introduction within the town hall, this robot has been accepted and even appreciated for its efficiency and its ability to simplify administrative procedures. However, recent events have left a veil of perplexity and sadness within the municipal administrationas details of his final day continue to emerge during the ongoing investigation.
“The robot was going around in circles as if it was sensing something.”
The tragic incident took place on Thursday, June 20 at 4 p.m., when witnesses observed the robot behaving strangely just before falling from a flight of stairs. According to a municipal official, “the robot was going around in circles as if it were perceiving something, but no one yet understands what could have pushed it to such an extreme gesture“. The investigation team recovered parts of the robot, which will be analyzed to determine the exact causes of this fatal fall.
The robot, which had gained official recognition as a full member of the town hall, had a defined workload and carried out its functions from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This regularity in his schedule raises the question of whether work overload or other unknown factors may have contributed to this tragic incident.
“He was one of us”
The news of the robot’s death sparked a wave of emotion among municipal officials and residents of Gumi. Another municipal official expressed his grief, saying: “He was officially part of the town hall, he was one of us“This reaction reflects the growing attachment of humans to their robotic colleagues, who are becoming increasingly integrated into professional environments traditionally reserved for humans.
As South Korea positions itself as a world leader in robotics, the incident also raises questions about regulations and protocols surrounding the employment of robots in administrative roles. Gumi Town Hall, through its municipal council, has indicated that it does not plan, for the moment, to adopt a second civil servant robot, despite the obvious advantages in terms of efficiency and customer service.
