At 4:00 p.m. on May 29, the Modernity and Developmental History Research Team of Seoul National University’s Center for Contemporary Korean Studies held the first lecture in its seminar series for the first half of 2026.

The seminar, titled “Exploring the Humanities of Technology and Energy,” consisted of two consecutive special lectures. It provided a forum for discussing how the pressing contemporary issues of technology and energy can be approached from the perspective of the humanities.

The first lecture, titled “Intimacy and Efficiency: How Do Robots Care for Older Adults?,” was delivered by Dr. Heesun Shin, a Visiting Scholar Fellow at Seoul National University Asia Center. Her research focused on Hyodol, a companion robot introduced to support older adults amid the growing crisis of elder care. The lecture offered valuable insight into how emerging issues in contemporary Korean society can be examined through the lens of the history of science and technology.

The lecture was followed by a discussion held simultaneously in person and online. Participants engaged in a wide-ranging exchange on topics including science and technology, gender, labor, and robotics.