NHN deployed its proprietary AI, HanDol, to assist in the joint training sessions at the 19th Korea-China Youth Sports Exchange held in Iksan, Jeonbuk, on the 21st. Following the January summit where leaders agreed to boost future-generation ties, Go was officially added to the exchange program. HanDol, as a leading domestic Go AI, supported the training of participating students from both nations.

The event, running for seven days from July 19th to 25th, involves a mix of joint training, official matches, and cultural excursions. The training session took place on the morning of the 21st at the Western Life Hotel in Iksan, with 12 students and coaches from both nations in attendance. The curriculum featured the 'HanDol Challenge,' where participants faced off against pro-level AI, alongside a level-test mode that allowed students to choose a difficulty setting tailored to their specific skill, providing a solid way to gauge their progress.

The students seemed genuinely impressed. Shim Hyo-jun from the Korean delegation remarked, "HanDol was far stronger than I anticipated," adding, "The ability to face various skill levels and identify my personal weaknesses makes me want to keep using HanDol." Wang Yousong from the Chinese delegation noted, "HanDol is excellent for Go training, and I would like to recommend it to my friends," and added, "It was a meaningful experience to study and learn alongside friends from both China and Korea through this exchange."

So-hyeong So, a manager at the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, stated, "Because Go is a more static discipline compared to other sports, we were concerned about how to structure the training program, but the AI-driven approach felt very fresh." He added, "I hope we can introduce AI-integrated training programs to other sports disciplines in the future." NHN has been working to popularize and expand the reach of Go since 1999 through Hangame Baduk & Omok.