AI robots to help manage public wellness at Seoul's iconic design hub

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), the cavernous, silver-plated landmark designed by Zaha Hadid, has long served as Korea’s premier venue for avant-garde fashion and contemporary design.

Now, the futuristic complex is set to experiment with a different kind of architecture: an invisible infrastructure of public health managed entirely by artificial intelligence (AI).

The Seoul Design Foundation said Friday that it partnered with tech firm SK Intellix to transform the cultural hub into a living laboratory for urban innovation.

Under the new agreement, signed at the DDP Design Lab, the complex will deploy a fleet of autonomous "NAMUHX" wellness robots across its sprawling corridors, turning the public plaza into a test bed for agentic AI.

The sleek, roving machines are designed to blend seamlessly into the background of bustling exhibitions while performing a suite of microservices.

Equipped with self-driving navigation and specialized sensors, the robots will monitor and regulate indoor air quality in real time.

For visitors navigating the complex, the machines will offer contactless healt ...