Yong-Jae Kim

Yong-Jae Kim is the Co-CEO and CTO of WIRobotics Inc. He received his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and his Ph.D. in Robotics from KAIST. He began his career at Samsung Electronics’ Manufacturing Technology Center, where he led the development of humanoid robot mechanisms starting in 2003. He also conducted research as a visiting scholar and visiting professor at MIT. In 2014, he joined Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH) as a professor, where he leads the IRIM Lab.

His research focuses on biomechanics-inspired robotic systems, including advanced manipulators, robotic hands, and biped humanoid robots. In 2021, he co-founded WIRobotics Inc., where he currently serves as Co-CEO and CTO. The company successfully commercialized WIM, a personal wearable walking-assist robot, and recently introduced ALLEX, a humanoid robot designed for human-level dexterity and whole-body compliant interaction. WIRobotics has received four CES Innovation Awards over three consecutive years, demonstrating technological excellence in both wearable and humanoid robotics.