In a shocking incident, a civil servant robot reportedly 'committed suicide' by plunging down a staircase under mysterious circumstances in South Korea. Officials are investigating while residents mourn what's believed to be the city's first robot suicide.
The robot was appointed by Gumi City Council in August 2023 and was one of the first of its kind to join the city council. It "helped with daily document deliveries, city promotion, and delivered information" and was capable of calling an elevator and moving between floors on its own, according to one city council official. It worked from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and had its own civil service officer card.
Witnesses noted the robot hovering in one place before it took the fatal plunge. However, authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of its fall. An official stated, ‘Fragments have been gathered and will undergo analysis by the company.’
Local media headlines circulated following the robot suicide, asking things like “Why did the diligent civil officer do it?” or “Was work too hard” for the cyborg?
Earlier, a security robot allegedly “committed suicide” by falling into a water fountain in Washington DC. However, it was later discovered that the accident was caused not by suicide but by skidding on a “loose brick surface”.