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Solving Everyday Problems Using Artificial Intelligence… Winners of the “2025 AI Toktok Coding Contest” Announced

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) has announced the winners of the “2025 AI Toktok Coding Contest,” held to strengthen the digital competence of young people and promote a sound information culture.

Hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency (Information Culture Center), the contest was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, Dongseo University, Dong-Eui University, and Pusan National University.

Amid the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the city organized this contest to provide opportunities for young students to learn the basic concepts of AI and to apply them through block coding* to create games and find real-life applications.

*Block Coding: An educational programming method that teaches the principles of coding by assembling visual blocks instead of text-based code.

The contest, open to elementary and middle school students in Busan, accepted entries until September 30 under the theme “Solving Everyday and Urban Problems Using Artificial Intelligence.” Participants created AI-powered projects using either Scratch* or Entry,** block-coding-based educational programming tools. Elementary students competed as a team with a parent, while middle school students participated individually. A total of 77 entries were submitted—40 from elementary participants and 37 from middle school students.

*Scratch: An educational programming language developed by the MIT Media Lab in the United States.
**Entry: A block-based educational programming language developed in Korea.

The top honors went to:

• ●Minister of Science and ICT Award – Cho Ui-hyeon (Yangun Middle School, 1st grade)

• ●Busan Mayor’s Award – Son Dong-hoon (Deoksang Elementary School, 5th grade) and Bae Ji-ho (Centum Middle School, 1st grade)

In addition, two students received the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education Award, two received the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency Award, and six received University President Awards from Dongseo, Dong-Eui, and Pusan National Universities, bringing the total number of awardees to 13. The awards ceremony will be held in November.

The winning entry for the Minister of Science and ICT Award, titled Blue Sky, is an interactive game addressing global warming and environmental pollution. Players survive in polluted cities and forests by crafting survival tools, managing purification equipment, and interacting with AI. Beyond simple information delivery, the game allows players to experience the importance of environmental preservation through pollution management and decision-making. In its final stage, it prompts reflection on the coexistence of humanity and AI by presenting a moral dilemma between human greed and AI judgment—earning high praise from the judges.

Cho Young-tae, Director General of the Administrative Management Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated,
“We hope this contest will inspire students to develop an interest in coding and nurture creative thinking. In particular, through their experience with AI-based block coding, we look forward to seeing them grow into future AI experts.”