LG Electronics said Thursday that it is holding the "2026 Global IT Challenge for Disabled Youth (GITC)" finals in Da Nang, Vietnam, over three days starting from the 27th.
The GITC is a competition that has continued since 2011 to enhance the IT (information technology) utilization skills of disabled youth and support their entry into society. Over the past 15 years, more than 5,000 disabled youth from 41 countries have participated. This year, 81 disabled youth selected through preliminary rounds in nine countries—South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines—took part.
Participants competed in categories including "e-Combination," which covers AI (artificial intelligence)-based information retrieval and document processing; "e-Content," which evaluates video production skills using an AI platform; and "e-Interactive," which involves creating interactive games that respond to motion and voice using AI. On the final day of the competition, participants will also have time to experience and exchange Vietnamese culture through activities such as learning traditional dance and visiting museums.
This year, marking the 15th anniversary of the competition, the winner of the first edition joined to add significance to the event. Shin Ki-hoon, who took first place in the information retrieval category at the inaugural competition held in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2011, attended to cheer on the participants. Shin is currently pursuing a doctoral program at Pusan National University, researching the implementation of AI in smart devices.
The competition was hosted by LG and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, with LG Electronics, the Korea Association for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, local social enterprises and universities in Vietnam serving as co-organizers.
Yoon Dae-sik, Senior Vice President in charge of competition cooperation at LG Electronics, stated, "Through the GITC, we will continue to create opportunities for global disabled youth to experience new technologies such as AI and showcase their capabilities."
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