• NYPC – A premier strategic programming competition powered by AI and organized by South Korean game company Nexon.
• An exclusive breakthrough opportunity for Vietnamese university students, with fully sponsored participation in the Grand Final in South Korea.
• Expanding the search for and development of local IT talent through a strategic partnership with Nexon Dev Vina (NDVN).

Nexon Co., one of South Korea’s leading online gaming companies, has officially launched registration for the Nexon Young Programmers Cup (NYPC) 2026, an innovative strategic programming competition empowered by artificial intelligence (AI).

Since its debut in 2016, NYPC has become Nexon’s flagship programming competition and a hallmark of the company’s commitment to coding education. This year marks a major transformation for the competition, as it shifts from traditional algorithm-based programming challenges to strategic programming powered by Generative AI. Participants will harness the capabilities of AI to develop strategies, solve complex challenges, and compete against one another in dynamic head-to-head battles. The competition supports 12 widely used programming languages, including C, C++, Python, and Java.

NYPC 2026 also marks a historic milestone as the competition officially expands to a global scale, with Vietnam selected as its first international destination. Young Vietnamese talents will compete in the Master Track, a division specifically designed for university students. Teams will engage in intense AI agent battles, where success depends on the ability to anticipate situations, respond adaptively, and counter opponents’ strategies effectively.

The journey to the NYPC 2026 title consists of two stages: an Online Preliminary Round and an On-site Grand Final. The Preliminary Round will take place from June 29 to July 8, allowing participants to solve challenges at any time within the designated competition period.

The top-performing participants from the Preliminary Round will earn a coveted place in the Grand Final in South Korea. All related expenses including round-trip airfare, accommodation, and local transportation will be fully covered by the organizers. In addition, the competition champion will receive valuable cash prizes and gain exclusive access to an internship experience program at Nexon.

To bring the competition closer to Vietnam’s technology community, Nexon will work closely with Nexon Dev Vina (NDVN), the company’s development subsidiary in Vietnam. Promotional activities will be conducted across leading engineering and technology universities, while updates on competition rules, registration procedures, and event information will be regularly shared through official Facebook and Zalo channels.

Kim Jung-wook, President of Nexon, stated:

“Over the past decade, NYPC has been dedicated to laying the foundation for and elevating programming education in Korea. As we enter a new chapter, we hope to extend that inspiration to young technology enthusiasts around the world. We believe NYPC 2026 will serve as an ideal launchpad, providing aspiring developers with transformative challenges and meaningful experiences in the AI era.”

Registration for NYPC 2026 is now officially open through the competition website. After creating an account and completing registration, participants can access the platform to practice and sharpen their skills using sample challenges provided by the organizers.

About Nexon

Founded in 1994, Nexon is one of the world’s leading companies in the development, publishing, and operation of online games. With globally recognized franchises including MapleStory, Dungeon&Fighter, KartRider, and The First Descendant, Nexon delivers engaging entertainment experiences to players around the world.

Leveraging a portfolio of valuable intellectual properties (IPs), strong creative development capabilities, and decades of experience operating online gaming services, Nexon continues to create new forms of interactive entertainment across PC, console, and mobile platforms.

For more information, please visit: www.nexon.com

About NYPC

The NEXON Young Programmers Cup (NYPC) is an AI-integrated strategic programming competition organized by Nexon. First launched in 2016, NYPC provides participants with opportunities to tackle complex challenges through creativity, strategic thinking, and technology.

Going beyond traditional programming competitions that focus primarily on algorithms, NYPC encourages participants to leverage AI and a variety of programming tools to develop innovative and creative solutions.

Through NYPC, Nexon aims to nurture the next generation of digital talent and expand development opportunities for promising young programmers worldwide.

For more information, please visit: new.nypc.co.kr/en/

Reference Material: NYPC 2026 Event Poster