The 13th annual RoboCup South Korea Open took place from February 14th to 16th, 2025, at the Alpensia Resort Convention Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Special Autonomous Province. The event was hosted by the Korea Robocup Association and Robot Newspaper and supported by various organizations, including the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement2.
International Participation and Competition
This year’s competition saw participation from over 500 students from various countries, including Kenya, Russia, Taiwan, local South Korean teams, among others. The event included 170 teams consisting of elementary, middle, high school, and university students. The competition featured various categories, including:
Humanoid Soccer (Kids Size)
Soccer Lightweight (Junior)
Rescue Line (Junior)
Spike Maze (Junior)
Cospace Autonomous Driving
Cospace Rescue
On Stage
STEMlens Network’s Kenyan Team Highlights
The Kenyan team, Fusion Bots, achieved 3rd place in the Humanoid Soccer (Kids Size) category, showcasing their skills and innovation on the international stage. Two other Kenyan teams, Mecha Minds and Gear Gurus, received the Courage in Adversity Award.
The opening ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Han Sang-yong (President of the Korea Robocup Association) and Cho Kyu-nam (CEO of Robot Newspaper). Dignitaries from Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Tourism Foundation, and the Korea Institute for Robot Convergence also attended, encouraging participants. Cho Kyu-nam emphasized the role of robots in solving societal problems and encouraged participants to use their imagination and creativity. Han Sang-yong welcomed the international teams and hoped the event would foster learning, collaboration, and a passion for robotics.
A robotics symposium was held, featuring presentations on various topics.
The RoboCup South Korea Open 2025 provided a valuable platform for students from around the world to demonstrate their skills, exchange ideas, and foster a passion for robotics and AI. The success of the Kenyan teams underscores the importance of STEM education and international collaboration in advancing the field of robotics.
