Summary
Three graduates of an AI content-production course run by Seoul’s Yongsan District and the Yongsan Women’s Resources Development Center won the grand prize at the 2026 Next Creator hackathon. Competing as DIDIT, Kang Min-seok, Park Saem-ina and Bae Ji-hye created “Haechidan_Prologue,” an animation that reinterprets Seoul’s Haechi mascot, earning 10 million won. The contest asked creators to express memories, imagination and feelings about Seoul through generative-AI content. The team had completed 200 hours of training over 50 days in planning, generative tools and portfolio production, and had also produced a promotional video for the Yongsan Youth Festival.
Hana’s perspective
I think the useful signal is not the prize itself but the path into the work. A 200-hour local employment course led to a finished animation, a public competition result and portfolio material. That is a more concrete bridge than a short demonstration of an AI tool. Still, a hackathon winner does not prove long-term employment outcomes or production readiness. Training programs should follow graduates beyond the showcase and publish what roles they secure, how much human craft each project requires and whether teams can sustain quality outside a timed contest.
Source:
- Jeonmae Daily, “Yongsan Employment Program Graduates Win Grand Prize at AI Content Hackathon,” https://www.jeonmae.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1299285
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