Empowering Inclusive Innovation: SKT and Hana Financial Group Host TECH4GOOD Hackathon for AI Talent
July 25, 2026
SK Telecom and Hana Financial Group recently concluded the third annual TECH4GOOD Hackathon, an intensive two-day event held from August 15 to 16. This competition brought together aspiring young professionals to develop artificial intelligence solutions aimed at assisting vulnerable populations and tackling pressing social challenges. By merging technical AI expertise with financial sector insights, the event sought to bridge the digital divide and ensure that technological progress benefits everyone, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and those less familiar with digital environments.
The 2024 edition of the hackathon featured 15 integrated teams composed of students from SKT’s 'FLY AI Challenger' program and participants from the 'Hana Financial Talent Growth Project.' A total of 61 individuals across 12 teams competed this year, following a successful debut in 2023 that hosted 94 participants. The teams were strategically balanced to combine software development skills with financial planning and service design perspectives. Throughout the event, mentors from SKT’s professional development staff provided technical guidance to help the students refine their prototypes, which ranged from mobile apps to web-based AI agents.
After a grueling schedule of overnight development and pitching sessions, several projects stood out for their innovation. The grand prize was awarded to Team T1 for 'Harukong,' an AI service that transforms parenting journals into interactive fairy tales for children while providing analytical growth reports for parents. Two teams earned top excellence awards: Team Haemulpajeon developed 'Dameum,' a tool that restores emotion and natural voice quality to the speech of individuals with articulation disorders, and Team 12 Ganji created 'PitchStock,' a platform that makes complex stock market trends accessible to visually impaired investors through audio and descriptive data.
The judging process involved a weighted system where 80% of the score came from an expert panel and 20% from peer voting among the participants. Financial awards ranged from 1 million to 3 million won for the winning teams. Beyond the competition, the organizers emphasized the value of practical experience, noting that combining telecommunications technology with inclusive financial strategies allows for unique solutions to real-world problems like childcare, disability rights, and financial literacy.
Read original at SK Telecom Newsroom.