The annual rivalry match between Korea's leading engineering universities, KAIST and POSTECH, will be held for the 22nd time on September 19th and 20th at the KAIST campus, the university announced on September 18th.

The POSTECH-KAIST Student Festival, also known as "Pokajeon," began in 2002 to promote exchange between the two schools. This year's event features a variety of programs, including science and athletic competitions, performances, and broadcasts.

Held every September, Pokajeon alternates between Daejeon (KAIST's location) and Pohang (POSTECH's location). This year it's being called "Pokajeon" because POSTECH is the visiting team, and the custom is to put the visiting team's name first. The event is also known as the "Science War," a fitting nickname for a competition featuring the nation's top engineering students.

This year's Pokajeon will feature seven events: three science competitions (Hacking, AI Contest, Science Quiz) and four athletic events (Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, and E-sports).

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The science competitions are unique and a highlight of the festival. The hacking competition kicks off on the first day at 2 p.m. and continues for 12 hours until 2 a.m. the next morning. In this contest, participants earn points by solving information security problems, including cryptography. All team members must participate in rotation, and using generative AI tools is allowed. A live broadcast will show real-time scores and solution processes, giving spectators a sense of the excitement.

The AI contest will take place on the same day at 5 p.m. at the Daejeon e-Sports Stadium. Based on the car-soccer game "Rocket League," the competition features AI programs created by the students themselves. The AI programs will control the cars to score goals. Matches are a best-of-five series, with each set lasting five minutes.

The Science Quiz will be held on the second day at the Ryu Geun-chul Sports Complex. Participants will solve problems on scientific knowledge and current research trends while also playing a modified version of the strategic card game "Battle Line." They must use strategy cards and soldier cards to secure flags. This event tests not just knowledge but also strategic thinking and teamwork.

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The athletic events combine traditional sports with e-sports. Baseball, soccer, and basketball games will be played on the KAIST campus fields, while the e-sports event ("League of Legends") will be a best-of-three series. Each game will have on-site events to boost participation and excitement for students and spectators alike.

The university that wins at least four of the seven events will be the overall champion. KAIST currently holds a 12-8 record, having won the last three consecutive years.

"I hope this year's Pokajeon fosters a sense of belonging and pride in the students of both universities through healthy competition, and that it becomes an opportunity to create cherished memories for engineering students," said Oh Sang-jun, head of the Pokajeon planning committee (KAIST, Aerospace Engineering, class of '23).

KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung added, "Pokajeon is a special festival where KAIST and POSTECH students connect through science and sports. I hope they feel pride as key players representing the future of Korean engineering and work together to open up the future of science and technology."