TLDR: The Ministry of Science and ICT recently celebrated the winners of its 2025 AI·digital native debate and paper contests, recognizing students from middle school to university for their innovative perspectives on the artificial intelligence era. The competition aimed to foster critical thinking and research capabilities among the youth regarding the societal impact and future direction of AI.
On November 8th, the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) hosted the “2025 AI·digital native debate competition and paper contest awards ceremony” at the Paiknam Library, Hanyang University. The event was a culmination of efforts to identify and celebrate the creative insights of the next generation, equipping them to lead in the rapidly evolving age of artificial intelligence. The ministry emphasized the importance of strengthening research capabilities and facilitating discussions among teenagers and young adults on critical social issues arising from the AI grand transition.
The competition featured two main categories: the AI·digital native debate competition and the AI·digital paper contest. The debate competition was structured across three divisions: middle school, high school, and university. In the middle school division, Team Gisero, comprising Moon Jeong-a and Kim Ye-rin, emerged victorious. The high school division saw Team Transparent Bubble, with Lee Sol-u and Choi Eun-hyeok, take the top honor. For the university division, Team Hantomak, consisting of Kim Ye-jin and Jang Min-hyeok, secured the highest recognition. Each of these winning teams was awarded the prestigious Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT Award.
The AI·digital paper contest attracted a significant number of participants, with a total of 41 entries submitted. These papers explored diverse and pertinent themes, including “AI and changes in jobs,” “AI algorithm bias,” and “AI hallucination.” The grand prize in this category was awarded to Shin Gyo-jun, a student from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, for his paper titled “How to verify bias and hallucination in generative AI.”
Shin Gyo-jun’s paper received high commendation for its in-depth analysis of the reliability of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, and its practical assessment of potential policy responses. Furthermore, the paper proposed innovative solutions, including Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)-based AI reliability verification methods and inclusive governance measures, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to managing AI’s challenges.
Excellence awards were also presented to other notable contributions. Students Kim Gwan-hui of Korea University, Kim Min-gi of Korea Aerospace University, and Kim Seok-hwan of Yonsei University were recognized for their collaborative work, “A macro-dynamic analysis of the economic changes brought about by the shock of AI technology.” Another excellence award went to a paper focusing on “Institutionalizing learning data tracking, notification, and opt-out for creators in the AI era,” highlighting the legal and ethical considerations in the AI landscape.
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The event underscored the Ministry of Science and ICT’s commitment to nurturing future leaders who can critically engage with and contribute to the responsible development and integration of artificial intelligence into society.
