South Korea's First Robot Officer Commits Suicide

The first administrative officer robot of a city council in South Korea has been declared nonfunctional after it fell down a two-meter staircase, leading to local media lamenting the country's first robot suicide. 

The robot, which was appointed in August 2023, was found unresponsive after the fall and had been actively involved in daily document deliveries, city promotion, and information dissemination to local residents. 

The exact cause of the fall is still under investigation, with witnesses reporting that the robot was circling in one spot before the accident occurred. 

Despite being a diligent member of the city hall, the robot's unexpected demise has raised questions in local media about whether the workload was too much for it. 

The robot, manufactured by Bear Robotics, worked from 9 am to 6 pm and had the ability to call an elevator and move between floors independently. 

While South Korea is known for its enthusiastic use of robots, the Gumi City Council currently has no plans to introduce a second robot officer.