Following controversy over reports that major power plants had installed mobile cameras to monitor workers, it has now been confirmed that some workplaces, including Hyundai Steel, are using “robot dogs” to patrol factory interiors and record workers.

According to reports compiled on October 29, Hyundai Steel announced on its website in August that it had “introduced robot dogs as a key part of its unmanned patrol system to ensure factory safety.” The company said the devices “help prevent accidents by detecting potential hazards in advance and complement areas that human workers might overlook.” It also noted that “the inspection targets include people,” explaining that “the robots are linked to closed-circuit television (CCTV) and artificial intelligence (AI) systems that monitor whether workers are properly wearing safety helmets and equipment in real time.” Workers testified that they had seen the robot dogs in factories even before August. Discussions are reportedly underway about introducing similar devices at Hyundai Motor’s electric vehicle plant, though labor unions are opposing the move.

The company insists the robots are meant to strengthen safety management. However, labor unions argue that the robots neither improve safety nor respect workers’ rights. Under Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act, consent is required before recording an individual’s image, but subcontracted workers say they were neither informed in advance nor asked to sign consent forms. Critics fear that, in the event of an accident, the company could use footage to shift responsibility onto workers.

It remains unclear how much these robots actually contribute to industrial safety. A subcontracted worker in his 30s at Hyundai Steel’s Dangjin plant said, “Robot dogs can’t fundamentally solve safety problems. What we need are better facilities and working environments.” He added, “It just feels like we’re being watched and restrained.” Workers also complained of poor conditions on site, noting the lack of heating or cooling systems and the absence of rest areas.

On September 6, a collapse occurred at the raw materials plant in Dangjin, where a subcontracted worker had been on the job. No one was injured, but workers nearby said they could easily have been hurt. “They were survived by luck,” one of the coworkers recalled.

After the collapse, subcontracted workers were reportedly sent to inspect the accident site even though safety had not been guaranteed. They have since demanded negotiations with Hyundai Steel to improve working conditions, but the company has refused. Previously, both the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the courts ruled that Hyundai Steel’s subcontracting practices constituted illegal dispatching and ordered the company to directly hire the affected workers.

Lee Yong-seok, policy director of the Hyundai Steel Subcontracted Workers’ Chapter under the Korean Metal Workers’ Union, said, “Machines cannot stop the ‘outsourcing of danger.’ Robot dogs cannot solve safety problems.” He continued, “We don’t know if the company introduced them out of genuine concern for safety or to find ways to shift blame onto workers when accidents happen.” He added, “Having robots moving around the work floor just gets in the way, and it actually makes things more dangerous. It also raises an issue of human rights.” The union is calling for negotiations to address safety concerns through dialogue rather than surveillance.

A Hyundai Steel official said, “Hyundai Steel is making various efforts to create a safer workplace. The use of robots is one of our measures to secure safety in blind spots,” adding that “the company has reached an agreement with the union representing full-time employees.”