- The Mission: 20 weeks of creative mentoring for children and youth in underprivileged areas across South Korea.
- The Impact: 43 young adult mentors completed 51 creative projects, including games, webtoons, and videos.
- The Growth: Mentors reported a high satisfaction rate (4.9/5.0) in problem-solving and communication skills.
- The Value: The program’s social contribution is valued at approximately 1.6 billion KRW.
Smilegate Hope Studio (Chairman Kwon Hyuk-bin) officially announced the successful completion of the 6th Generation of “Hope Creators,” the young adult mentors for its flagship creative community, PALETTE. Over the past 20 weeks, these mentors have bridge the digital divide by helping children turn their imaginations into reality using cutting-edge IT tools.
Mentoring in the Age of AI
From September last year to February 2026, 43 mentors were deployed to 9 regions across South Korea, including Seoul, Jeonju, and Busan. Their primary role was to guide children at local community centers through the entire lifecycle of a creative project—from initial ideation to the final production of games, webtoons, and digital videos.
With the 6th generation specifically focusing on creative leadership in the AI era, the program saw mentors evolving alongside their students. According to a post-activity survey:
- Problem-solving & Communication: 4.9 / 5.0
- Self-expression & Teamwork: 4.8 / 5.0
“Planning a project and solving problems as a team with the children was a challenging yet rewarding experience,” said Hong Eun-chae, a business student at Jeonbuk National University and a 6th-gen mentor. “Watching the kids grow by utilizing AI and other IT technologies was truly fulfilling.”
A Legacy of Social Value
Since its inception in 2019, the Hope Creator program has reached 14 regions and 86 centers nationwide. A total of 4,333 participants have dedicated over 35,000 hours to creating 197 unique works.
The impact of PALETTE extends far beyond the classroom. Hope Studio recently calculated the program’s Social Value at 1.6 billion KRW—a figure representing the replacement cost the society would otherwise have to pay to achieve similar educational and community effects.
From Mentors to Innovators: The Alumni Effect
The program is also a breeding ground for future tech leaders. Through the “PALETTE Alumni” support system, former mentors continue to create social value:
- Team ‘Green’: Developed “COM-US,” a solution facilitating communication between deaf parents and hearing children (Selected for Google Solution Challenge Top 100).
- Project Lamb: Created “No Signal,” a sound-based horror game (Selected for the 2024 GXG Indie Craft).
Quick Specification: Hope Creator 6th Gen
| Category | Details |
| Organizer | Smilegate Hope Studio |
| Community | PALETTE (Creative IT Community) |
| Duration | 20 Weeks (Sept 2025 – Feb 2026) |
| Reach | 9 Regions, 43 Mentors, 51 Projects |
| Social Value | Approx. 1.6 Billion KRW (Cumulative) |
“Hope Creators play a vital role in fostering a creative growth environment for future generations within our local communities,” said Kwon Yeon-ju, Director of Smilegate Hope Studio. “We will continue to cooperate with local societies to ensure these young leaders grow into healthy and influential members of our global community.”
Smilegate Hope Studio’s commitment to PALETTE continues to bridge the gap between technology and creativity, ensuring that no child is left behind in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
