CreatripTeam

South Korea’s 23rd National Aerospace Science Competition for youth was held on April 18 at Kumoh National Institute of Technology in Gumi, sponsored by the Korea Space Agency (KSA) and organized by the Korea Science & Space Youth Association. The event—originating in 2003 as a model rocket contest—has grown into the country’s largest youth aerospace festival. Over 6,000 elementary, middle and high school students competed in regional qualifiers, with about 700 advancing to the finals. This year introduced a new AI-based aerospace game scenario category alongside five traditional events: model (gunpowder) rockets, water rockets, electric aircraft, rubber-powered planes, and coding drones. The KSA director said the contest, held about a month before the fourth Nuri (Korean space launch vehicle) launch, aims to inspire and nurture the next generation of Korean launch vehicle developers and aerospace talent.