"Contactless Era, How Secure Are Unmanned Services? Recruiting Teams for Information Security Hackathon"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seolgina Jo] The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 23rd that it is recruiting teams to participate in the Non-face-to-face Unmanned Service Information Security Hackathon, which discovers various ideas for the safe use of unmanned services in the non-face-to-face era, together with the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA), SK Telecom, and GS ITM.

This competition was prepared to discover ideas to solve security and safety issues of related unmanned services such as unmanned stores and unmanned delivery, and to create business models as non-face-to-face technology rapidly spreads. Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), it will be conducted online in a non-face-to-face manner.

Anyone can participate by forming a team of up to four members, including prospective entrepreneurs, startup employees, and university students. The recruitment will be divided into two parts: designated tasks that solve major difficulties such as Internet of Things (IoT) device security and data protection, and free topics proposing solutions outside the designated tasks.

Applications and submissions are accepted from September 25 to October 21. After preliminary screening on the 26th, 21 teams will be selected, followed by about a week of idea refinement, and the final round will be held on November 9. Detailed information such as application methods, participation registration, hackathon tasks, and schedules can be found on the Korea Internet & Security Agency website (www.kisa.or.kr).

Through document screening and presentation evaluation, seven excellent ideas will be selected as finalists, and a total prize of 40 million KRW will be awarded along with the Minister of Science and ICT Award (Grand Prize), Korea Internet & Security Agency President Award (Excellence Award), participating company awards (Merit Award), and Encouragement Awards.

Award-winning teams will receive benefits such as additional points in document screening when participating in the KISA Information Security Startup Incubation Project and the startup incubation program operated by SK Telecom (SK True Innovation), and special advantages such as additional points in document screening during GS ITM new employee recruitment will be provided.

Heo Seong-wook, Director of Information Security Network Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, “After COVID-19, digital transformation has accelerated and non-face-to-face services have expanded, increasing unmanned services gradually, emphasizing the importance of information security and safety even more.” He added, “We hope for much interest and participation so that various innovative ideas and technologies that can solve security issues can be discovered through this competition.”