The government last month announced a $33 million project to capture the “instinctive know-how and skills” of “master technicians” into a database.

Workers at a five-star hotel fold napkins and wipe silverware with body cameras recording their every move.

The government last month announced a $33 million project to capture the “instinctive know-how and skills” of “master technicians” into a database.

The project reflects South Korea’s wider ambition to turn its chip industry, manufacturing strength and industrial know-how into an edge in ‘physical AI’. But can it catch up in a…