SK hynix (000660.KS) is holding a hackathon that will exempt standout artificial intelligence talent from document screening and written tests when they apply for jobs at the company.
SK hynix said on the 21st through its website that it is accepting applications for the SK hynix AI Hackathon 2026. Applications will be accepted from the same day through the 28th, followed by a first preliminary round on Oct. 17-18 to verify basic AI knowledge and skills and a second preliminary round from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 to assess specialized capabilities and select finalists. The finals will be held offline on Nov. 11 at COEX in Seoul's Gangnam district.
The AI hackathon asks participants to solve assigned tasks using AI and evaluates their AI capabilities based on both the process and the results. SK hynix plans to assemble a panel of expert judges and assess participants using tools including Copa Probe, an AI recruitment and assessment solution developed by Krafton (259960.KS) in cooperation with OpenAI. The company will not collect academic information such as applicants' schools, majors or grades, focusing solely on their ability to solve problems using AI.
Top performers selected through the finals will receive a combined 100 million won ($72,000) in prize money, along with a "fast track" benefit that waives document screening and written tests when they apply for jobs at SK hynix. All finalists will also receive an "AI Competency Certificate," regardless of whether they win an award.
"This hackathon was designed so that participants can show how they actually use AI and solve problems, without being constrained by which school they attended or what they majored in," an SK hynix official said. "We hope it becomes an opportunity for participants from diverse backgrounds to take on new problems and gauge their own capabilities."
