Will robots save us?

Abstract

This thesis examines the recent rise of disaster robotics in South Korea and analyzes the sociotechnical imaginary that accompanies the development of disaster robots. After a series of catastrophic accidents in 2014 such as the Sewol ferry disaster, the South Korean government proposed robots as one of the technocratic measures to address the problem of disasters. When the Korean robot HUBO won the DARPA Robotics Challenge in 2015, the public expectation towards life-saving robots became even larger. By analyzing the ways in which robots are illustrated in the government’s disaster and safety-related policy documents and popular media materials, this study shows that the South Korean government is regarding disasters as a managerial problem and at the same time, as an opportunity for economic growth by developing new technologies. Furthermore, robots are envisioned to use human tools, act like human rescuers, and ultimately replace humans in hazardous environment. What is missing in this sociotechnical imaginary, however, is the existence of humans at disaster sites. This thesis points out the need for reconfiguring the relationship between humans and robots in disaster situations and paying closer attention to treatment towards humans. By displaying how the development of certain technology reveals a nation’s sociotechnical imaginary, this thesis proposes that we attempt to review and question some undisputed assumptions in science and technology policy and robot policy in South Korea.