Source: NHN

NHN (CEO Jung Woo-jin) announced on the 13rd that it has begun accepting applications for 'Next AI Network 2026 (NAN 2026),' a recruitment-linked hackathon designed to discover talent in the gaming and AI sectors.

NAN 2026 was organized to identify gaming talent capable of designing the next phase of AI, as part of NHN's company-wide strategy to internalize AI-driven business innovation. The name 'NAN' signifies the next chapter of NHN as it expands through AI, reflecting the company's goal to uncover new possibilities for AI within the gaming industry. The event, aimed at fostering domestic gaming talent, is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency.

NAN 2026 is open to anyone aged 19 or older, with participants able to apply as individuals or in teams of up to three. Applicants must submit an application form and a preliminary project via the event page by Monday, August 10. The preliminary project must include a playable game build, a demonstration video, a game introduction, technical documentation on AI usage, and a description of team member roles (optional for individual participants). Ten teams will be selected for the finals following an internal review and will be notified individually.

The finals will take place from Friday, September 4, to Sunday, September 6, at 'Play Museum,' NHN's headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. Upon the announcement of the theme, teams will have 48 hours to focus on development and submit deliverables, including a game prototype, agent design documents, and directing specifications. The top three teams will receive cash prizes: ₩50 million for the Grand Prize, ₩20 million for the Top Excellence Award, and ₩10 million for the Excellence Award.

Furthermore, all winners will be offered employment opportunities. Winners will be granted a final interview, and those hired will receive bonuses based on their length of service.

Through this event, NHN plans to discover AI talent with proven practical skills and link them directly to recruitment to strengthen its AI competitiveness in the gaming sector. In addition to NAN 2026, the company continues to operate various internal and external AI programs to bolster the group's AI capabilities and drive AI-based business innovation.

In March, NHN successfully concluded the 'NHN AI Sprinton,' an internal program designed to enhance the AI proficiency of group employees. On July 2, the company hosted '2026 Agentic Day' alongside NHN Cloud and NHN Dooray, sharing results achieved through AI agents via lectures and interactive booths.

Kim Sang-ho, head of NHN's Game Business Division, stated, "NAN 2026 is a game-specialized hackathon where participants can propose new experiences using AI in games and implement them into actual results," adding, "We look forward to the participation of many individuals with creative ideas and a spirit of challenge."

He added, "Based on our long-accumulated data and service operation expertise, NHN will continue to innovate in gaming using AI. We plan to go beyond simple AI adoption and strive to create tangible results."