Korea Digital Authentication Association Announces 10 Finalist Teams for '2025 Blockchain&AI Hackathon'

The Korea Digital Authentication Association announced on the 30th that it has selected the 10 finalist teams for the '2025 Blockchain&AI Hackathon'.

The '2025 Blockchain&AI Hackathon' is a competition aimed at discovering creative service ideas utilizing blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). It is hosted by the Korea Digital Authentication Association (President Lee Gihyuk) and co-organized by RaonSecure (Co-CEOs Lee Soonhyung and Lee Jeonga) and the Global Digital Innovation Network (GDIN, CEO Kim Jonggap).

A total of 209 teams applied, demonstrating strong interest, and the preliminary round recorded a competition rate of 20.9 to 1. Participating teams proposed practical and everyday ideas using 'mobile identification (mobile resident registration card, driver's license, national merit registration card, etc.)', such as: digital monetary contracts; job matching; digital delegation, notarization, and content certification; AI smart hospital companion; mobile pet identification; and next-generation blockchain-based surveys.

The preliminary judging was held over two days, June 25 and 26, and teams were evaluated based on creativity, feasibility, and business potential. Out of 20 teams that passed the preliminary round, 10 were ultimately selected as finalists. The finalist teams will receive expert mentoring for technical development and advancement during the final round.

The five winning teams of the hackathon will be announced in September, and the winners will receive a total prize of 30 million won, including the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award. In addition, RaonSecure, LF Investment, Axis Investment, and UK venture capital firm Simsan Ventures plan to provide up to 1 billion won in startup support funds per team through separate evaluations. GDIN will continue to offer various follow-up support, including global expansion, overseas investment attraction, and management consulting.

Lee Gihyuk, President of the Korea Digital Authentication Association, said, "I deeply appreciate the passion and creative ideas of all the teams that participated in the hackathon," and added, "I hope this competition will serve as an important opportunity to promote innovation based on blockchain and AI and to lead the global expansion of K-DID technology."