Coding genius Ji-Hoon

Ji-Hoon, living in an old studio apartment, solves coding problems relying on the dim light from his smartphone screen. He works part-time at a convenience store during the day to earn living expenses, and at night, he sleeps to study programming on his own.

 

Since there is no computer, he had to use the library or the school computer lab, but even this was not easy for Ji-hoon, who works late into the night. His worn-out smartphone was his only learning tool and a faint light toward the future. His dream is to become a great developer who can change the world with his own code. During the final exam period, Ji-hoon is stamping his feet because he can’t find a seat in the computer lab. Eventually, he heads to a large franchise cafe that is open 24 hours.

 

Despite the loud music and people talking, Ji-hoon turns on his laptop and concentrates. He feels bad about ordering a cup of coffee and sitting there for hours because he doesn’t have money, but he desperately needs Wi-Fi. When the cafe is about to close, he ends up searching for a weak public Wi-Fi signal coming from a nearby store. In the cold dawn air, he sits on a street bench, listens to lectures on the connected Wi-Fi, and spends the night coding.

After months of forced marching, Ji-Hoon eventually gets sick. After groaning day and night for several days, he finally recovers and opens his coding workbook again. At that moment, the convenience store owner comes over and offers him a cup of warm tea. “Ji-Hoon, I think you’ve been overdoing it lately. If you’re having a hard time, just let me know.” The owner’s sincere concern and consideration are a great comfort to Ji-Hoon. Although it was just a cup of tea given without a word, Ji-hoon feels the warmth of his heart cheering him on. Such simple interest and encouragement gives Ji-hoon the strength to get back on his feet.

Ji-Hoon, who had been going through a hard time, finally gets a chance. He sees an announcement for a national college coding competition. He uses his experience of coding day and night to participate in the competition. Despite his old laptop and poor environment, Ji-hoon fully demonstrates the skills he has accumulated over the years. His unique ideas and efficient code caught the judges' attention, and he confidently won the grand prize.

 

This competition became a decisive leap forward for Ji-hoon to make his skills known to the world. The news of his winning the grand prize in the coding competition made Ji-hoon famous. He received a flood of offers from various IT companies, and Ji-hoon finally joined the IT company of his dreams. He created the 'Generative AI Mentoring' program and donated scholarships to help students in similar situations. He never forgot the past when he relied on the light of an old smartphone and public Wi-Fi, and he became a ray of hope for those who do not lose their dreams even in difficult circumstances. Ji-hoon's story resonates deeply with many people.