About 3,500 elementary and middle school students to participate at SETEC Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 on Sept. 30, featuring awards and exhibitions from the Gangnam Digital Future Talent Competition
Gangnam-gu will host the "2026 Gangnam Digital DNA (Dream New Area) Festival" at SETEC Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 on Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Gangnam Digital DNA Festival was conceived to share the educational achievements of the "Digital Future Talent Goes to Schools" initiative — a program running since 2023 across 61 elementary, middle and special schools in the district — and to give students hands-on experience with future technologies and opportunities to explore career paths.
This year's event opens with a ceremony at 10 a.m. and will feature the Gangnam Digital Future Talent Competition awards and exhibition, future technology experience booths, an event zone and special lectures. About 3,500 participants are expected, including elementary and middle school students from within the district as well as members of the general public.
The Gangnam Digital Future Talent Competition is an AI-focused program tailored separately for elementary and middle school students. Elementary school students will compete on the theme "Our Neighborhood AI Safety Heroes," while middle school students will take on a creative project centered on designing, building and developing AI-based solutions for future cities. A total of 35 teams were selected through preliminary and final rounds held from June through August, and all of their projects will be on display at the venue. On the day of the event, 12 teams — six each from the elementary and middle school divisions — will be chosen as finalists and presented with awards.
The future technology experience booths are divided into two main sections — the Gangnam Future Education Center and the Digital Future Talent Goes to Schools project — comprising 53 booths in total. The Gangnam Future Education Center section offers a robot-guided tour of the center, an AI space control center, a rocket launch simulation and a constellation experience. The Digital Future Talent Goes to Schools project section runs a range of programs, including an immersive action VR experience, racing robot operation and digital interactive art, along with career exploration and lifelong learning activities.
The event zone will host a variety of AI-themed activities under the banner "AI Book DNA," including an AI-powered book recommendation service. A special lecture by Jo Coding, a well-known AI content creator on YouTube, will cover AI trends and how to become a standout talent in the age of AI. A b-boying performance by Koreart, the performance team from the Gangnam Happy Concert, will also be held as a side event.
Admission is free and open to all. For more information, contact the Gangnam-gu District Office's Education Support Division.
Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki said he hopes the festival will give students a chance to freely express their imagination and creativity as they pursue their dreams. "Gangnam-gu will continue to expand its everyday future technology education infrastructure to nurture the key talent that will lead the digital era," Kim said.
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