South Korea has unveiled its first humanoid robot monk, named Gabi, at a Buddhist ceremony in Seoul, signalling a new intersection between technology and religion.
According to a report by The Korea Times, the robot took part in a traditional precept ceremony at Jogye Temple ahead of Buddha’s Birthday celebrations. The 130cm-tall robot, developed on China’s Unitree G1 platform, wore a grey-and-brown Buddhist robe and performed ritual steps alongside monks.
Gabi followed the full ritual sequence typically carried out by lay believers. During the ceremony, the robot bowed, circled a pagoda and received a 108-bead rosary. It was also assigned the Dharma name “Gabi”, derived from references to Siddhartha and the Korean word for mercy, according to The Korea Times.
When asked about its devotion, the robot stated it would devote itself to Buddhism, as shown in a video shared by Reuters.
The ceremony was organised by the Jogye Order, which said the initiative is part of efforts to connect with younger generations and respond to a shortage of monks in temples.
Gabi bowed to human monks and had a rosary placed around its neck. When instructed to pledge itself, Gabi replied, “Yes, I will devote myself.”
Gabi is expected to participate in upcoming Buddha’s Birthday lantern parades as an honorary member, reflecting how religious institutions are exploring new ways to integrate technology into traditional practices.
Meanwhile, in April this year, a humanoid robot named Edward Warchocki gained viral attention after footage showed it successfully chasing a group of wild boars from a Warsaw parking lot, marking another public appearance for the mechanical personality.
Edward Warchocki, a Unitree G1 humanoid robot, once again captured public imagination on Sunday after a video surfaced showing it effectively deterring a group of wild boars in Warsaw.
The robot was observed pursuing the animals across an empty parking lot for several metres until they vanished down the street, with Edward’s social media account humorously remarking that it was “herding the wild boars into the forest.”
This is not Edward’s first moment in the limelight. The robot has previously engaged with Poland’s Minister of Finance and Economy, made appearances on television programmes and regularly interacted with people on the streets of Warsaw, building a notable public profile.
While the robot itself is a Unitree G1 model developed by Unitree Robotics, its distinctive personality is a creation of Polish developers.
Unitree Robotics, the manufacturer, is a prominent intelligent robot producer based in mainland China.
The company is also recognised as one of the “Hangzhou Six Little Dragons”, a term used for a cluster of rapidly expanding Chinese technology unicorns located in Hangzhou.
