Busan is good

Global Data Hackathon “DIVE 2025” Now Accepting Applications (July 1)

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that applications are now open for the “DIVE 2025” competition, which aims to lead the data industry ecosystem and enhance its sustainability, from today (July 1) through July 24.

“DIVE” is Busan’s unique competition brand held based on global networking. After a successful inaugural event last year (2024), the competition returns this year with significantly expanded participation and scope.

A “hackathon” is a practical competition where participants develop business models around specific themes within a limited time and space. From August 23 to 24, participants from Korea and abroad will gather at BEXCO to design Busan’s future with data.

<Overview of DIVE 2025 Global Data Hackathon>
Data Insight and Visualization Event (DIVE)

• ●Date/Location: August 23 (Sat) – 24 (Sun), 2025 / BEXCO (2nd Exhibition Hall, 4F) / Two days, one night

• ●Participants: Approximately 300 individuals, including university students, professionals, and general public, from both Korea and overseas

• ●Program: Participants (in teams of 2–4) will analyze data and develop services based on themes and datasets from 9 presenting institutions

The event will feature a variety of programs including:

• ●Thematic workshops

• ●Team building

• ●Idea development and technology creation through intensive marathon-style debates (hackathon)

• ●Development of services and applications

• ●Mentoring and consulting sessions

This year, a new category called “Technology Partners” will be introduced in collaboration with presenting and sponsoring organizations, further strengthening cooperation with leading global tech companies.

The presenting institutions include three private companies—Kakao Mobility, BNK Financial Group, and allDATA—as well as six public organizations: Korea Housing & Urban Guarantee Corporation (HUG), Busan Port Authority, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Busan City Corporation Council (transportation, urban, tourism, facilities, environment), Marine Data & AI Task Force, and Dongnam Regional Statistics Office. These nine organizations will provide their own datasets and designate specific themes.

Technology partners include global leaders such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Deloitte, and Salesforce, who will support participants with powerful cloud infrastructure, expert insights, and project development training. Sponsorship applications are still being accepted.

Anyone interested, including domestic and international university students and professionals, can apply via the Busan Big Data Innovation Center website (www.dxchallenge.co.kr) from July 1 to July 24. Additional points will be awarded to encourage participation by international entrants (including international students), and team formation including planners, designers, and developers is recommended.

After an online preliminary screening, 80 teams will be selected to advance to the finals. Finalists will be announced at the end of July. To help participants produce high-quality outcomes, themes and data will be disclosed in advance.

Finalists will compete for prizes totaling KRW 10 million. In the comprehensive awards category, three teams will be selected to receive the Mayor of Busan Award: the Grand Prize, First Prize, and Excellence Prize. Each presenting organization will also present its own awards to 1st–3rd place teams.

Jung Na-young, Director General of the Future Technology Strategy Bureau, stated,
“We aim to successfully host ‘DIVE 2025’ where creative talent and world-class technology converge, laying the groundwork for Busan to communicate globally through data and to become a global hub city.”