Summary
Three graduates of Yongsan District’s practical AI content-production course won the top prize at the 2026 “The Next Creator” hackathon in Seoul. Competing as team DIDIT, Kang Min-seok, Park Saem-ina and Bae Ji-hye submitted Haechidan_Prologue, an animation that reinterprets Haechi, a symbol of Seoul. The contest asked emerging creators to use generative AI to express memories, imagination and emotion around the theme “My Seoul.” It was held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on September 18–19, and the team received 10 million won. The three creators had completed a 200-hour, 50-day course run by Yongsan District and the Yongsan Women’s Human Resources Development Center, covering planning, generative-AI production tools, portfolio development and mentoring. Graduates also made a promotional video for the 2026 Yongsan Youth Festival.
Hana’s perspective
I think the strongest part of this program is the link between training, a finished animation and public evaluation. Short courses often stop at tool demonstrations; here, participants had to develop a point of view, complete a project under time pressure and build a portfolio. That is closer to real production. Still, an award does not show whether the workflow is sustainable or whether graduates find paid creative work. Programs like this should track employment, credits and the division of human and machine labor in winning projects. For AI-animation training to mature, craft fundamentals and rights awareness need to sit beside prompt and software skills.
Are you a writer with a great story? We'd love to hear from you: APPLY HERE