Korea Code Fair Finals to Be Held in Gwangju on October 17-18

119 Teams Advance in Software Contest, Hackathon, and Software Study Room
Side Events Include AI Exhibition, Drone Soccer, and Special Lectures

'7th Korea Code Fair' poster. Provided by Gwangju Metropolitan City

The finals of the 7th Korea Code Fair, the largest youth software competition in the country, will be held on October 17 and 18 at the Kim Daejung Convention Center in Gwangju. This event is co-hosted by Gwangju City, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the National Information Society Agency (NIA).

This year’s theme is “A Future with Artificial Intelligence (AI): Coding Creative Innovation.” Students from elementary, middle, and high schools across the nation will participate in this youth technology festival to showcase their abilities in AI and software convergence.

The competition consists of three categories: the “Software Contest,” where participants solve social problems using software; the “Hackathon,” where teams tackle on-site challenges; and the “Software Study Room,” an online learning platform open to everyone.

In the “Software Contest,” 89 teams from elementary, middle, and high schools that passed the preliminary rounds will present their self-developed programs. After evaluation in each category, a total of 30 teams will receive awards. In the “Hackathon” category, 15 teams each from middle and high schools will compete in the finals, presenting solutions to topics revealed on-site. The “Software Study Room” is open to anyone for free participation through the Korea Code Fair website.

Alongside the competition, side events such as the “2025 AI Exhibition (AI TECH+),” a drone soccer tournament, and an AI experience zone will also be held. For the parents of finalists, Gwangju’s signature tourism experiences-including tours of the National Asia Culture Center and Jeonil Building, as well as a forest healing program-will be offered.

Additionally, at 3 p.m. on October 17, the renowned science YouTuber “Gwedo” will give a special lecture on “The Evolution of Content Creators in the Age of AI.” Participation is free after on-site registration.

Choi Taejo, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Industry Office, stated, “This competition will provide a platform for youth nationwide to demonstrate their creative problem-solving skills through AI and software,” adding, “We expect Gwangju to play a central role in nurturing future talent as a hub city for AI.”