[Econ & Biz] From humanoids to beauty devices, S. Korea left a mark at CES 2026

Описание: 휴머노이드 부터 뷰티까지, CES에서 인상 남긴 한국 기업들

The lights have dimmed in Las Vegas, marking the end of CES 2026. Our Kim Do-yeon has returned from Las Vegas and joins us in the studio to wrap up the week’s biggest trends. Welcome back, Do-yeon.

Thank you. It was a hectic but very productive week.

Let’s dive right in. Every year, there is one buzzword or theme that dominates the show floor. What was the "Hottest Topic" of CES 2026?

First, from the latest numbers although subject to audit 148-thousand people attended this year's event with 55-thousand of them from overseas like me.
So it was a massive show and this year there was a clear trend.
If last year was about the software of AI, this year was undeniably about the hardware—specifically, robotics.
We saw a major shift from digital AI to "Physical AI."
The hottest topic was the "humanoid."
Companies are no longer just showing prototypes behind glass; they are showing robots that can walk, work, and interact with us safely.
I spoke with Brian Comiskey from the Consumer Technology Association, the organizers of CES, and he noted that this year was a turning point for how robots fit into our lives.
And it turns out, South Korean players also didn't go unnoticed.


"I think that what really stood out to me this year was the leap in robotics. Humanoids had quite a big year with Hyundai showcasing their ATLAS humanoid robot. We saw the K-Humanoid Alliance from Korea bring together a variety of different startups to really showcase how robotics are getting to this point where they're able to complement human labor and activity because it's about coexisting with humanity and rather than displacing."

As he mentioned, the keyword is "coexisting."
The industry focus has moved from robots replacing humans to robots working alongside us as partners.

"Coexisting with humanity"—that’s a very significant distinction. Beyond the heavy machinery and robots, what else stood out? I heard there were some interesting developments in lifestyle technology.

Yes, the second biggest trend was beauty tech.
Last year, CES actually introduced a dedicated "Beauty Tech" category for the first time, signaling that this is no longer niche—it’s mainstream.
It falls under the broader theme of "Longevity"—using tech to live longer and better.
We saw incredible innovations from Korean companies, specifically. For instance, Kolmar Korea showcased a device that uses AI to analyze skin and treat scars instantly.


"One of my favorites was Kolmar Korea, did an AI-powered precision scar treatment and coverage system device.
So working to the idea that some people, when they want to get that feeling of better, maybe they don't want to have the stories associated with a scar that they have. Well, how about being able to cover it up with a tech device that can precisely treat it, and that's something that Kolmar Korea was doing that I found to be really quite compelling."

That leads us to our final point. You mentioned Hyundai and Kolmar—it sounds like Korean companies had a massive presence. How did they perform overall compared to the global competition?

To put it simply: Korean innovation "showed up."
About 50 percent of the innovation honorees this year were Korean firms.
Whether it was the big conglomerates like Samsung and LG, or the startups in Eureka Park, Korean companies were dominant. It wasn't just about attendance numbers; it was about the quality of the technology.
When I asked the CTA about the perception of Korean companies this year, they emphasized that Korea is now seen as a "hotbed" for cutting-edge tech.


"Korean innovation showed up, and that was clear in the presence of Hyundai, LG Samsung. But as I said, Kolmar Korea, Persona AI, Ceragem, other companies of all sizes really showcase that Korean innovation is on the cutting edge and is pushing forward the entire technology sector."

So, from heavy industry to beauty, Korean companies are not just following trends—they are setting them.
And for consumers, the good news is that many of these products, including the beauty devices and smart home appliances, are scheduled to hit the global market within the first half of this year.
It really felt like the gap between "science fiction" and "consumer reality" has finally closed, with technology that feels immediate rather than futuristic.
Walking the floor, the energy wasn't about what might happen in ten years, but about what will be in our living rooms in ten months.

Indeed. Thanks for the wrapup today.

#CES2026 #HumanoidRobot #BeautyTech #arirangnews #CES2026 #휴머노이드 #뷰티테크 #아리랑뉴스

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2026-01-15, 20:00 (KST)