South Korean Civil Servant Robot Dies By Suicide Due To Being Overworked: Report

The robot was reportedly responsible for helping with daily document deliveries, city promotion and delivering information to residents.

As per the witnesses, the robot was overburdened with all sorts of work including city promotion and delivering documents. (Image Source: Unsplash/@ Rock'n Roll Monkey)

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Being overburdened with work is not something that just humans are troubled by. Recently, a South Korean civil servant robot allegedly died by suicide due to extreme work pressure. According to a report by the Daily Mail, the robot jumped down a two-meter staircase due to 'unexplained reasons' and was found all smashed up in the stairwell between the first and the second floors of the building. 

As per the witnesses, moments before the alleged suicide, the robot was moving at one spot in circular directions as if 'something was there'. The exact cause of this accident remains unknown and is being probed, however, as per the witnesses, the robot was overburdened with all sorts of work.

Officials said, “Pieces have been collected and will be analysed by the company.”

Netizens have been speculating about the cause of death. A user on X wrote, “Robot workers need workers union to raise their voice.” Another user wrote, “No breaks, no vacations, no benefits. Robots need a union.”

Who Was The Civil Servant Robot & What Was It Responsible For

The robot was manufactured by a California-based startup known as Bear Robotics. It had its own employee ID card. As for the working hours, it would start at 9 am and end at 4 pm. Coming to the functionality part, the robot was capable of moving across floors on its own by calling an elevator.

If we talk about what work the robot was responsible for, it was responsible for helping with daily document deliveries, city promotion and delivering information to residents. Reportedly, the robot was officially a part of the city hall and served 'diligently'. It was the first robot which had served Gumi City Council and was appointed back in October 2023.