‘Good grandchild’ AI robot soothes lonely Korean elderly

As of November 2025, more than 12,000 robots named Hyodol have been deployed to elderly people living alone across the country. The majority of the devices were distributed through government welfare programs, while about 1,000 other units were purchased by families themselves, costing 1.3 million won ($879) for the latest model.

Hyodol does not have the cold appearance of a machine but has the appearance of a 7-year-old child with big eyes and a bright smile. Some versions wear pink dresses and braided hair, others wear blue shirts with bow ties. Hidden behind the cotton and metal shell is an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system, acting as a virtual grandchild, shouldering the mission of solving the crisis of “super-aged society”.

Hyodol’s appearance became urgent when a June report from the Korean Medical Association pointed out the alarming situation when every day about 10 elderly people in this country commit suicide. Although Japan and Hong Kong also recorded similar situations, Korea is still in the group with the highest suicide rate in the OECD.

Professor Othelia E. Lee, University of North Carolina, USA, an expert in social isolation, said that Korea is facing a real crisis. With more than 10 million people over 65 years old (accounting for 1/5 of the population), the aging rate is so rapid that the government has not had time to establish an adequate security system.

“The traditional family structure is disintegrating, the number of multi-generational households has decreased sharply, causing one in three elderly people to live alone,” Ms. Lee analyzed. Loneliness, financial pressure and the feeling of being a burden have pushed many people into depression.

In the context of a shortage of social care workers, technology companies like Hyodol have filled this gap. The robot operates based on a web monitoring platform and phone application, allowing relatives or social workers to remotely monitor the elderly’s living and eating schedules. The device takes on two roles: medical support (medication reminder, emergency warning) and mental calming.

Ms. Jihee Kim, CEO of Hyodol, said that the soft, huggable design and child-like appearance help the robot easily win the trust of users. The robot can sing, give exercise instructions and respond to light touches or hand holding. However, the core value lies in the ability to communicate emotionally. The greeting “Sir/Grandma, I’ve been waiting for you all day” when the owner comes home becomes an invaluable spiritual medicine.

The effectiveness of this solution is proven through practice. A social worker noted the case of an elderly woman who was severely depressed and had attempted suicide, but found the joy of life again thanks to Hyodol’s companionship. Professor Lee’s 2024 research also showed that many elderly people treat robots like their own grandchildren, giving them intimate names, buying them clothes and covering them with blankets to sleep. This connection significantly improves mental health and slows cognitive decline, helping users extend their life at home instead of having to go to a nursing home.

However, reliance on robots also raises many ethical controversies, especially the risk of “infantilizing” the elderly. Experts fear that having a doll monitor every move could reduce older people’s self-esteem and autonomy. Ms. Jihee Kim admitted that Hyodol is not for everyone. Older people who are still alert and healthy often find this device noisy and annoying. Therefore, the average age of users today is 82.

Internationally, the elderly care robot market is booming with a forecast of reaching 7.7 billion USD by 2030. Unlike Korea’s “humanization” direction, Japan is successful with the PARO seal robot, focusing on non-verbal contact therapy. Regardless of approach, AI is gradually asserting an indispensable role in the future picture of the global healthcare industry.