SK Telecom said on Oct. 15 it held the “2026 Happy AI Challenge,” in which disabled youths use AI to compete in creativity and problem-solving skills.

The event was held over two days from Oct. 14 at SKT’s talent development centre in Icheon, Gyeonggi province. Under the theme “Connecting thoughts, meeting the future,” 110 disabled youths and 44 supervising teachers took part.

SKT has supported efforts to strengthen digital capabilities among disabled youths since launching an information search contest in 1999. Marking its 27th edition this year, it renamed the event from the “Happy AI Coding Challenge” to the “Happy AI Challenge” and shifted its focus to creative problem-solving using AI.

Participants worked in two-person teams on tasks including an AI ethics quiz, finding a robot’s travel route, searching for cultural heritage information and cracking a QR code cipher. They used SKT’s AI service A.Dot (A.) and other tools to produce posters and videos, competing in AI application skills. The programme also included hands-on activities with advanced digital technologies such as augmented reality racing, drone simulation and Lego robot coding.

In the results, students Kim Yun-gyu (김윤규) and Lee Eun-hee (이은희) of Chungju Sacred Heart School won the minister’s award from the Ministry of Science and ICT. Students Jeon Jun-eon (전준언) and Jung Yong-su (정용수) of Yeongju Jeil High School won the minister’s award from the Ministry of Education. Students Yun Hyeon (윤현) and Lee Da-bin (이다빈) of Jeonbuk Pureun School won the minister’s award from the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

SKT also operates the Happy AI Coding School programme, which has provided coding and AI education at about 570 schools nationwide since 2019. In September, it invited winners from last year’s contest to a programme to explore future career paths and experience AI technology.

“We will continue to use AI technology to reduce the digital divide and provide more opportunities for growth,” said Jong-hwan Eom (엄종환), head of SKT’s sustainability management office.