China's widening lead in humanoid robot patents is raising the stakes for South Korea's push to compete in the fast-growing industry. According to Intellectual Property Office data obtained by Rep. Lee Jeong-heon’s office, China accounted for 60.8% of humanoid robot patents across the world’s five major intellectual property offices (IP5) as of the first half of 2026. The US held 21.8% and Korea 4.6%. China’s share rose from 51.8% in 2024, while Korea’s fell.