Mr. ‘W’ has difficulty in his social life due to his hearing impairment. The Internet is a unique means to connect “W” with the outside world. He wanted to study information communication at the university and work at a computer-related company, but it seemed difficult for him to get a job. In June 2007 he decided to participate in the “2007 IT Challenge Contest for Physically Challenged Youth”. He wanted to win the contest and get the benefits of overseas training so he could become an IT expert in the future. He will compete in the “e-Tool” field which tests Microsoft Office operating skills.

The above-mentioned case is a real story of one youth in the fourth grade with a hearing impairment who participated in the ‘2007 IT Challenge Contest for Physically Challenged Youth’. As part of our efforts to support physically challenged youth who are overcoming their physical disability and meeting the challenges for becoming IT professionals, there are programs conducted by SK Telecom (CEO Shin Bae Kim, www.sktelecom.com) and the Korean Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (Chairman Sang Chul Lee). This includes the ‘2007 IT Challenge Contest for Physically Challenged Youth’ at the IT Center in Seoul on June 28^th. The Contest was sponsored by the Ministry of Information and Communication (www.mic.go.kr), the Ministry of Health and Welfare (www.mohw.go.kr) and the Korea e-Sports Association (www.e-sports.or.kr).

The “IT Challenge Contest for Physically Challenged Youth” has been held for nine consecutive years since its start in 1999. This Contest has established its position as a cultural festival in which physically challenged youth compete in improving and demonstrating their IT operating capabilities, as well as enjoying a variety of cultural events.

In 2007, the Contest has been held under the theme “Future Job-e” for Physically Challenged Youth’. It is categorized into three fields. The first is “e-Life Challenge” designed to test competing disabled students’. The second is IT operating capabilities, “e-Tool Challenge” for physically challenged youth, and the third is an “e-Sports Challenge” of online game competition. In addition, an “e-Job Challenge” program was newly launched in order to help disabled students get a job. This program is composed of job consulting, a curriculum vitae clinic and a job interview clinic.

In this contest, disabled students from special schools nationwide, and disabled youth from 19 to 30 years of age, had a chance to demonstrate their skill and ability to function, in cyber space. A total of 1,235 participants had preliminary matches in fourteen regions nationwide (including Busan, Gwangju, Daegu, Jeonnam, Kyungbuk, Jeju and Seoul) on April 17^th, and 350 winners were selected to compete in the final match on the same day.

The final match is divided into three fields. These are: The “e-Life Challenge” designed to test skills in information technologies which can be applied in daily lives. This       includes things such as information search and ticket purchasing via the Internet. The “e-Tool Challenge” is designed for competing in business program operating capabilities such as MS Office, and the “e-Sports Challenge” includes online game competitions. “e-Tool Challenge” contestants are divided into four categories - hearing impairment, physical disabilities, visual disabilities and the mentally-handicapped. The awards from the Minister of information and Communication, and the Minister of Health and Welfare, will be given to the winners from each category. Overseas training programs and scholarships will also be offered to the winners. In addition, prizes and honorary pro-gamer qualification offered by the Korea e-Sports Association will be awarded to the winners in the “e-Sports Challenge” field.

"This Contest establishes itself as a crucial information communication activity that helps disabled youth overcome the digital divide that faces those people on the margins of society who often become left out of the information loop. We hope that all physically challenged youth will be able to enhance their competitiveness, and create a great deal of enthusiasm and interest in developing their potential capabilities through this contest" said Joong Rae Cho, head of SK Telecom’s PR Office.