Hecto Group Cultivates Next-Generation AI Experts... "Talent-Centered Technology Management"

Hecto Group announced on July 9 that its next-generation artificial intelligence (AI) talent development competition, the Hecto Recruitment-Linked AI Contest 'HAI! Hecto AI Challenge,' has concluded successfully. The competition is a program designed to discover future-oriented talent, with Hecto Group making AI technology internalization a core strategy and building an AI-centric management system led by its dedicated 'HAI Division.'

This year's competition attracted approximately 1,400 participants, including students from top domestic universities, working professionals, and military personnel. They competed fiercely to develop AI models for classifying car models based on used car images. The grand prize was awarded to a student from Korea University, who presented the most creative and technically advanced model, receiving a prize of 10 million won. Five teams received the Excellence and Outstanding Awards, including joint student teams from Seoul National University, Hanyang University, and Yonsei University, as well as a team from Seoul National University. Participants who demonstrated both practical AI skills and creativity stood out during the competition.

All winners, including these teams, will receive exemptions from the document screening and first-round interview stages when applying for positions at Hecto Group, providing a direct pathway to recruitment and practical talent discovery.

Kim Minseop, the Korea University student who won the grand prize, said, "Before graduating from my undergraduate program, it was a great opportunity to apply what I have learned to a real service and enhance my AI capabilities. I am delighted to have achieved higher-than-expected results and will continue to strive for further growth."

Meanwhile, as part of its 'Software Specialist Training Program,' Hecto Group regularly operates the 'Seokyeong SW Academy,' providing mentoring to students in the software department at Seokyeong University. The company continues to pursue industry-academic cooperation models to strengthen AI and digital capabilities. In the first semester of 2025, two students who participated in the mentoring program won the '2025 Asia Impact Hackathon' international competition, achieving positive results.

Both the 'HAI! Hecto AI Challenge' and the 'Seokyeong SW Academy' are held twice a year, in the first and second halves, on a regular basis. Through these programs, Hecto Group aims to identify promising AI-convergent talent early and strengthen its talent base by linking these programs to recruitment within the group.

A Hecto Group representative stated, "We are operating various education and recruitment-linked programs to nurture talent who will lead the AI era," and added, "We plan to continue our technology management centered on talent through programs such as the 'HAI Challenge' and 'Seokyeong SW Academy' in the future."