The Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) is hosting an artificial intelligence (AI) hacking defense competition to discover cybersecurity talent.
KISA announced on October 8 that it is accepting applications for the preliminary round of the '2026 AI Hacking Defense Competition (ACDC)' until October 26, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Information Security Industry Association.
The ACDC focuses on three main areas: 'AI Security,' which addresses cyber threats using AI; 'AI Safety,' which protects AI itself from attacks; and 'AI Platform Security,' which safeguards the environments where AI operates. This is the second year of the competition, which was first held last year.
The preliminary round will feature attack and defense scenarios reflecting the three AI security areas. Participants will solve problems in a restricted cloud environment within a set time limit using a 'Capture the Flag (CTF)' format to obtain hidden strings, as well as a 'King of the Hill' format where teams defend against attacks while trying to control a given system.
Unlike last year, the finals will introduce a new challenge that assesses how effectively teams can leverage AI's potential capabilities. Specific details about the competition format and challenges will be announced later.
The preliminaries will take place online on October 31, with the top 40 teams advancing to the finals, consisting of 20 teams from the general category and 20 from the student category. The finals are scheduled for December 1 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam, Seoul.
Teams that perform well in the finals will receive awards from the Deputy Minister of Science and ICT and the KISA Director, along with special prizes. Award-winning teams will receive certificates, cash prizes, and other rewards.
Participants must be South Korean nationals aged 19 or older, and anyone interested in AI and cybersecurity can join as a team of four. Applications are open until 2 PM on October 26.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.