Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities to Be Held as an APEC Side Event

- 92 youth participants with disabilities from 16 countries to compete in four digital skills categories, including AI utilization -

- Forum on “Digital Inclusion and Employment” to explore visions for an inclusive digital society -

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong) and the Organizing Committee of the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (Chairperson Kim In-kyu) announced that the 2025 Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) finals will take place from Wednesday, October 29, to Friday, October 31, at Hotel Hyundai by Lahan Ulsan in Dong-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City.

The Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC) is the world’s only international IT competition designed to support young persons with disabilities in developing information and communication technology (ICT) skills and building a foundation for their education and employment. This year marks its 14th edition.

Designated as one of 11 official side events* of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, the GITC is the only event dedicated to persons with disabilities, underscoring Korea’s leadership in advancing inclusive digital policies as the APEC host economy.

   * This is the third time the event has been held as an official side event to a summit, following the Korea–ASEAN Special Summits in 2014 and 2019

Under the theme “IT for All,” the 2025 Challenge will bring together 92 youth participants with physical, visual, hearing, or developmental disabilities from 16 countries who qualified through international preliminaries. Each team will, in principle, consist of four youth participants and at least two accompanying staff members—such as government officials, teachers, or representatives of disability organizations—with additional participants permitted through host-country or national support.

The Organizing Committee has introduced generative artificial intelligence (AI) into this year’s competition, preparing a diverse range of events to strengthen participants’ digital adaptability in the era of digital transformation.

Competitors will demonstrate their skills across four categories: the eCombination Challenge, testing AI-based information search, document creation, and presentation skills; the eCreative_SmartCar Challenge, assessing coding-based autonomous-driving programming skills; the eCreative_IoT Challenge, focusing on appropriate-technology solutions and IT applications; and the eContent Challenge, evaluating creativity in video production and editing. An AI-powered interactive gaming experience will also be showcased as a demonstration event.

During the competition, the Innovation and Inclusion (InI) Forum and the Asia and Pacific Disability Forum (APDF) Conference will be held concurrently, with participation from government representatives, international organizations (including APEC and UNESCAP), corporations, and disability communities across the Asia-Pacific region. Discussions will center on “Digital Inclusion and Employment,” exploring ways to enhance digital literacy and expand quality employment opportunities for youth with disabilities around the world.

The opening ceremony on Wednesday, October 29, will be hosted by Binti Mohd Anwar of Malaysia, a former GITC champion with a hearing impairment, while the award ceremony will be held on Friday, October 31. Participants will also join a variety of cultural-exchange activities, including a visit to the Jangsaengpo Whale Museum in Ulsan, traditional experiences such as wearing hanbok and playing Korean folk games, and a K-pop performance, providing opportunities to experience Korean culture and connect with one another.

Eun Seong-ho, Director General for Population and Social Service Policy, stated, “As an official APEC side event, this competition highlights Korea’s commitment to inclusive digital policies and international leadership. We will continue to support youth with disabilities in building digital literacy and accessing quality, technology-driven jobs so they can grow as both beneficiaries and producers in the digital age.”

Organizing Committee Chairperson Kim In-kyu remarked, “The Global IT Challenge goes beyond competition—it serves as a platform for youth with disabilities to grow as leaders of future society. We hope this event fosters not only constructive IT competition but also mutual understanding across cultures and stronger global networks.”

Since its launch in 2011, the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities has been co-hosted annually by the MOHW, LG Corporation, LG Electronics, and the Korea Association for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, rotating among host countries. To date, more than 4,500 youth participants with disabilities and accompanying staff from 40 countries have taken part.

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