SK Shieldus has bolstered its practical cybersecurity capabilities through a simulated hacking competition grounded in real-world scenarios.

The company announced on Thursday that it successfully concluded its internal hacking event, Hack the Real, which saw enthusiastic participation from its employees.

The competition was orchestrated by EQST, SK Shieldus's premier white-hat hacker group in the country. As vulnerability assessments and simulated hacking gain prominence in both government and industry circles, SK Shieldus organized this event to sharpen its threat analysis and response strategies from an attacker's perspective.

Unlike conventional hacking competitions that typically revolve around puzzle-solving using known vulnerabilities, this event featured challenges designed to test the practical skills demanded of simulated hacking consultants in real-world scenarios. Participants grappled with tasks mirroring actual security concerns, including analyses of recent cyber incidents, financial sector security audits, mobile security solution bypasses, and vulnerability assessments of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language model (LLM) services. This approach allowed contestants to gauge their operational readiness in addressing contemporary cybersecurity challenges.

The competition drew over 300 participants, underscoring the high level of interest among employees. It spanned seven categories: Web Hacking, Mobile Hacking, AI and LLM, System Hacking (Pwnable), Browser Security, Internet of Things (IoT), and Ransomware and Reversing, with a total of 18 missions presented to the contestants.

Participants were tasked with analyzing vulnerabilities and attack techniques across these categories, then developing appropriate countermeasures. This comprehensive approach assessed their problem-solving abilities, a critical skill set for cybersecurity professionals. Jeong-seop So from the information and communications technology (ICT) Business Team emerged as the grand prize winner of the competition.

Kim Byung-moo, Vice President and Head of Cybersecurity at SK Shieldus, reflected on the event's significance: This internal hacking competition served not only to evaluate the team's technical prowess but also to reinforce SK Shieldus's commitment to real-world-based security leadership in an era of rapidly evolving cyber threats. As AI and automation technologies increasingly factor into security threats, it remains dedicated to pioneering research and practical training to stay ahead of the curve.

SK Shieldus has bolstered its practical cybersecurity capabilities through a simulated hac …

SK Shieldus Hack the Real: How a Corporate Hacking Competition is Shaping Cybersecurity Skills in 2026