Shin Ye-rim, a graduate student (master's program) in the Department of Social Welfare, and undergraduate students Kim Hyun-jung (senior) and Park Ye-jin (senior) won the grand prize at the recently held '2021 Hackathon Competition on AI Training Data Utilization'.

The competition was hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency (NIA), and organized by Jeonbuk Technopark. It was held to collect, build, and open AI training data to promote intelligent innovation across the nation, society, and all industries, and to create jobs.

Among 34 creative ideas that competed in the finals using AI training data, the team from Jeonbuk National University (JBNU)'s Department of Social Welfare earned the grand prize with their proposal titled 'Maeum-ah! Protect My Mind'.

The idea proposed an AI counseling assistant called 'Maeumi', focusing on counseling within the mental health AI industry that has been overly concentrated on predicting psychiatric disorders. It aims to overcome widespread negative perceptions of mental health counseling and the limitation that experts cannot be with those in need at all times and places, thereby enabling easier access to counseling and reducing prejudice about mental health.

In particular, team leader Shin Ye-rim, a graduate student, currently serves as a participating researcher in the BK21 Project Division's Regional Innovation Future Welfare Workforce Development Project Group. She has been actively conducting research in the field of social welfare and played a leading role in the competition.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) was selected for the BK21 Project Division and operates the 'Regional Innovation Future Welfare Workforce Development Project Group'. The department is carrying out various industry–university–research collaboration projects aimed at training future social welfare professionals, with an emphasis on regional and social innovation.