Las vegas: Two South Korean hacking teams have distinguished themselves by finishing among the top three at the prestigious DEFCON Capture the Flag (CTF) 34 competition, according to the South Korean science ministry. The competition, held in Las Vegas from Thursday to Sunday, is hailed as the "Olympics" for white hackers, attracting participants from around the globe.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the two South Korean teams were part of a contingent of six teams from the country that reached the finals of the 2026 event. This year, the competition saw fierce rivalry, with 686 teams competing in the preliminary rounds. Out of these, only 12 teams advanced to the finals, highlighting the exceptional performance of the South Korean teams.

The science ministry emphasized its commitment to nurturing top-tier cybersecurity experts equipped with practical skills. The ministry aims to ensure that these experts are prepared to address the evolving digital security threats in the age of artificial intelligence, providing proactive and effective solutions to emerging challenges.