HackTheon Sejong International University Cybersecurity Competition 2026

The “HackTheon Sejong International University Cybersecurity Competition 2026” is one of the most important academic events in the field of cybersecurity, scheduled to take place on July 9–10, 2026, in Sejong, South Korea, at the Government Sejong Convention Center.

The event is part of the larger HackTheon Sejong AI & Cybersecurity Conference initiative, bringing together specialists from around the world—including government representatives, industry leaders, researchers, and students.

The competition takes the form of a CTF (Capture The Flag) in Jeopardy mode, which involves solving challenges across various cybersecurity categories, such as cryptography, vulnerability analysis, network security, and reverse engineering.

The competition consists of two stages. The preliminary round takes place online and begins on April 25, 2026. The top 40 teams will advance to the finals, which will be held in Sejong on July 9.

University students from Korea and abroad (excluding doctoral students) are invited to participate. The competition is divided into three categories:

• Advanced (national and international),
  Beginner A (national),
  Beginner B (international)

The total prize pool is 32 million KRW in the Advanced category and 6 million KRW in the Beginner category. The top teams can win, among other things, grand prizes, honorable mentions, and awards for high rankings, which further enhances the prestige of the event. Registration runs from March 23 to April 22, 2026.

Finalists are provided with accommodation for the duration of the event. The competition is accompanied by an extensive conference program, including: an AI & Cybersecurity conference, an IT and cybersecurity trade fair, national and international seminars, research forums (e.g., space security, quantum cryptography), and a competition for innovative AI ideas.

We encourage you to participate!