A robot that worked for the Gumi City Council in South Korea has caused a lot of discussion after what some are calling the country’s first “robot suicide.” The event happened last Thursday at 4 pm, leaving the community confused and saddened.
The robot was made by Bear Robotics, a California startup famous for making robots that serve in restaurants. However, unlike those robots, the one at Gumi City Council had a wider range of jobs. This was part of a new initiative in South Korea, a country known for having lots of robots – about one for every ten workers, as reported by the International Federation of Robotic
According to witnesses, the robot was seen repeatedly circling in one spot as if sensing something before the mysterious incident. The exact cause of the accident is still unknown and under investigation. Officials have collected pieces of the robot for analysis by the company.
This robot’s duties included delivering documents, promoting the city, and providing information to residents on a daily basis. A source said the robot was an official part of the city hall and served diligently. It was introduced in October 2023 as the first robot to work for the Gumi City Council.
Before this incident, in Washington, there was a report about a security robot named Steve. It was said that Steve “committed suicide” by falling into a water fountain. However, later investigations found that the robot slipped on a loose brick surface, causing it to tumble and fall four stories into the fountain.