Korea Rural Community Corp. launches digital innovation contest with 10.5 million won purse

Entries accepted through July 31 in two categories: service development and video content

Open to all aged 18 and older; contest seeks AI and public data applications

Korea Rural Community Corp. (KRC), led by President Kim In-jung, announced Sunday it is accepting entries for the third KRC AI Digital Innovation Competition through July 31. The contest aims to uncover digital services and video content that leverage AI and public data.

KRC has held the Digital Innovation Competition since 2024 to strengthen public services and address rural challenges. This year's edition expands both the pool of eligible participants and the prize money, with a focus on finding digital services that can be put to practical use and on capturing the public's vision for the future of rural Korea.

The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or older, and participants may enter individually or as a team of up to four people.

Entries are accepted in two categories: service development and video content. The service development category covers web and mobile application services built using AI and public data available through the Public Data Portal (data.go.kr). The video content category asks participants to produce a video of up to one minute on the theme "The Future of Rural Korea Through AI."

The total purse is 10.5 million won (about $6,840), to be awarded to four teams — two top-prize winners and two runner-up winners. In the service development category, the top-prize team receives 5 million won and the runner-up 2.5 million won; in the video content category, the top-prize team receives 2 million won and the runner-up 1 million won. The two top-prize winners will also receive a citation issued in the name of the KRC president.

The submission window runs from Sunday through July 31. Applicants should complete the entry form available on the KRC website (ekr.or.kr) and submit it by email to digital@ekr.or.kr. KRC will evaluate submissions through a written review, a public online vote and a presentation round, with final winners to be announced in September.

"We expect this competition to chart a new future for rural Korea through diverse achievements that blend AI with public data," said Kwon Byeong-hae, head of KRC's AI Digital Division. "We hope to see strong interest and active participation."