- Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity holds Digital Saessak AI competition semifinals
- Four companies pose real problems; national finals set for December
Using AI to identify medical expense support programs, or analyzing road conditions to determine the precise moment to spread de-icing agents — middle and high school students across the country are applying the AI skills they learned in the classroom to tackle real problems facing businesses and society.
South Korea's Ministry of Education and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity announced Monday that they had held an integrated mentoring session for the 45 semifinalist teams of the 2026 Digital Saessak Problem-Solving Competition C.O.D.E at Ravidol Resort in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
The competition was designed to push young people beyond simply learning AI and toward applying it to real-world problems. Private companies are participating for the first time this year, contributing challenge topics, expert mentoring and follow-up startup support.
The four sponsoring companies are Finger, Neowiz, Jones & Rocket and Rakuten Symphony Korea.
The competition runs across three tracks. The "Challenge" track, sponsored by Finger, tasks teams with developing future financial services that all generations can use with confidence. The "Growth" track, co-sponsored by Neowiz and Jones & Rocket, focuses on discovering startup ideas that combine AI with game elements. The "Imagination" track, sponsored by Rakuten Symphony Korea, calls on teams to develop AI services that reduce online conflict and promote healthier communication.
A public recruitment drive targeting middle and high schools nationwide drew 201 applicant teams this year, the first time the competition has been open to all schools across the country. After an expert document review, 15 teams per track advanced to the semifinals, for a total of 45 teams — an overall competition ratio of about 4.5 to 1.
One standout entry is "Chaenggyeodeurim," developed by students from Daejeon Daesin High School: a service that lets users photograph a hospital receipt, after which AI identifies applicable medical expense support programs and guides them through the application process.
"EcoSnow," from Hanil High School, uses AI to analyze weather data and road surface conditions, then presents its recommendations on when and how much de-icing agent to apply through a game-based interface.
"Matdaem," from Gyeonggi North Science High School, is a browser extension that uses AI to distill the most persuasive points from opposing arguments in online comment disputes and presents them as summary cards.
About 200 people took part in the integrated mentoring session, including students, teachers and corporate experts. Choi Jae-bung, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University, and the operator of the science YouTube channel "1-Minute Science" delivered lectures on AI technology trends and effective idea communication. Sponsor company experts conducted one-on-one technical mentoring and presentation coaching for participating teams.
Semifinalist teams will complete their projects this month with support from corporate experts and Digital Saessak operating organizations.
The grand final, called "Connect Day," will be held Dec. 11 through Dec. 13 in conjunction with the K-AI Future Festival at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.
The top team in each track will receive the Minister of Education Award. All 45 semifinalist teams will receive prizes, with a total of 30 million won ($22,400) in products on offer. Winning teams will also receive follow-up support including company visits, advanced mentoring and startup accelerating programs.
Jung Woo-sung, president of the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, said the process of students who have learned AI finding their own answers to real problems facing businesses and society is itself the best form of career education. "We will actively support students so that their efforts translate into real results," Jung said.
nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com
