Article 1 (Purpose)
These Terms of Use are intended to set forth the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of the Hoban Cultural Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “Foundation”) and users in connection with the use of membership services, competition information, applications, submission of entries, bulletin board services, and other ancillary services (collectively, the “Services”) provided through the international AI competition website operated by the Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “Website”), as well as other matters necessary for the use of such Services.
Article 2 (Definitions)
For the purposes of these Terms of Use, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
1. “Foundation” means the entity that operates the Website.
2. “User” means any Member or Non-Member who accesses the Website and uses the Services provided by the Foundation in accordance with these Terms of Use.
3. “Member” means a person who has registered as a member by providing personal information through the Website and who may continuously receive information from the Foundation and use the Services.
4. “Non-Member” means a person who uses the Services provided by the Foundation without registering as a Member.
5. “Competition” means any AI-related competition, call for proposals, idea contest, call for works, or other application-based program announced by the Foundation through the Website.
6. “Participant” means a User who has applied to participate in a Competition in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Foundation.
7. “Submission” means any document, image, video, audio file, source code, link, description, or other material submitted by a User for the purpose of participating in a Competition.
8. “Post” means any symbols, text, audio, sound, image, video, file, link, comment, or other information posted on the Website by a User or an administrator.
Article 3 (Posting and Amendment of the Terms)
① The Foundation shall make these Terms of Use readily accessible to Users by posting them on the main page of the Website or on a linked page.
② The Foundation may amend these Terms of Use to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
③ If the Foundation amends these Terms of Use, it shall provide notice of the amended provisions, the effective date, and the reasons for the amendment together with the then-current Terms of Use on the Website at least seven (7) days prior to the effective date. However, if an amendment is disadvantageous to Users or materially affects their rights or obligations, the Foundation shall provide notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date and may, where necessary, separately notify Members by email or other similar means using the contact information provided by the Member.
④ Where the Foundation, in providing notice or notification of amended Terms pursuant to the preceding paragraph, clearly informs Users that failure to express an intention to reject the amended Terms within a specified period will be deemed acceptance thereof, and a User does not expressly indicate an intention to reject the amended Terms within such period, the User shall be deemed to have agreed to the amended Terms.
⑤ If a Member does not agree to the amended Terms of Use, the Member may terminate the service agreement.
Article 4 (Matters Not Provided for in These Terms)
Any matters not provided for in these Terms of Use, and the interpretation of these Terms, shall be governed by applicable laws and regulations, the Foundation’s Privacy Policy, the detailed rules and guidelines applicable to each Competition, notices posted by the Foundation, and generally accepted commercial practices.
Article 5 (Formation of the Service Agreement)
① A service agreement shall be formed when a person seeking to become a Member agrees to these Terms of Use, completes and submits a membership application in the form prescribed by the Foundation, and the Foundation accepts the application.
② During the membership registration process, the Foundation may require the applicant to undergo real-name verification or identity verification through a specialized third-party service provider.
③ The Foundation may reject a membership application or terminate the service agreement after registration if any of the following applies:
The applicant’s real name or identity cannot be verified;
The applicant uses another person’s name or information without authorization;
The applicant provides false information or fails to provide information required by the Foundation;
The application is made in violation of applicable laws or these Terms of Use; or
The Foundation reasonably determines that accepting the applicant as a Member would materially interfere with the operation or technical stability of the Services.
④ Where the Foundation permits a child under fourteen (14) years of age to register as a Member or participate in a Competition, the Foundation shall take the necessary measures, including obtaining the consent of the child’s legal representative, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
⑤ The Foundation may defer acceptance of a membership application if there is insufficient capacity in the facilities necessary to provide the Services referred to in Article 7 or if technical or operational difficulties exist.
Article 6 (Changes to and Management of Member Information)
① Members shall provide accurate and up-to-date information when registering for membership or using the Services and shall promptly update any information that has changed.
② The Foundation shall not be liable for any disadvantage arising from a Member’s failure to update their information, except where such disadvantage is attributable to the Foundation’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.
③ Members shall securely manage their account information and passwords to prevent unauthorized access or use and shall not provide or permit any third party to use such information.
④ If a Member becomes aware that their account has been compromised or used without authorization, the Member shall immediately notify the Foundation and follow any instructions provided by the Foundation.
⑤ The Foundation shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from a Member’s delay in providing the notification referred to in the preceding paragraph or failure to follow the Foundation’s instructions, except where such loss or damage is attributable to the Foundation’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.
Article 7 (Services and Changes to Services)
① The Foundation may provide the following Services through the Website:
1. Information concerning Competitions, including schedules, competition categories, and submission procedures;
2. Membership registration and management of Member information;
3. Applications to participate in Competitions;
4. Submission of entries and related documents and confirmation of submission status;
5. Competition-related notices and announcements of judging and award results;
6. Ancillary services, including publication and promotion of winning works and information concerning related events;
7. Q&A, bulletin board, and other community services; and
8. Any other services provided by the Foundation for the operation of Competitions.
② The Foundation may modify all or part of the Services where necessary for operational or technical reasons.
③ Where the Services are modified, the Foundation shall provide prior notice of the reasons for and details of such modification. However, where prior notice is impracticable due to unavoidable circumstances, the Foundation may provide notice after the modification.
Article 8 (Availability and Suspension of Services)
① The Foundation may temporarily modify or suspend all or part of the Services in any of the following circumstances:
Where maintenance, inspection, replacement, or failure of the Website or information and communications facilities occurs;
Where circumstances beyond the Foundation’s reasonable control occur, including suspension of services by a telecommunications service provider, power outages, or system failures;
Where a natural disaster or other event of force majeure occurs;
Where urgent measures are required for security purposes; or
Where otherwise necessary to ensure the stable operation of the Services.
② Where the Foundation modifies or suspends the Services pursuant to Paragraph 1, it shall, in principle, provide prior notice of the reason and expected duration through the Website or other appropriate means. However, where prior notice is impracticable due to unavoidable circumstances, notice may be provided afterward.
Article 9 (Obligations of Users)
Users shall not engage in any of the following activities:
Providing false information when registering for membership or applying to participate in a Competition;
Misappropriating or unlawfully using another person’s information;
Interfering with the normal operation of the Services;
Infringing the intellectual property rights, portrait rights, privacy rights, reputation, or other rights of the Foundation or any third party;
Collecting, reproducing, or distributing information from the Website without authorization;
Using the Services for commercial purposes without the Foundation’s prior consent;
Interfering with the fair operation or judging of a Competition;
Uploading or distributing viruses, malicious code, or other harmful programs;
Engaging in conduct that violates applicable laws and regulations, these Terms of Use, or the applicable Competition Rules; or
Otherwise infringing the legitimate rights or interests of the Foundation or any third party.
Article 10 (Competition Applications)
① Participants shall apply to participate in a Competition in accordance with the procedures and methods prescribed on the Website and in the applicable Competition Rules.
② Participants shall review the applicable Competition Rules in advance, including eligibility requirements, required documents, application periods, and submission procedures.
③ Participants shall be responsible for any disadvantage resulting from errors or omissions in the information entered or submitted by them, except where such disadvantage is attributable to the Foundation’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.
④ Whether an application may be modified or withdrawn, and the applicable deadline for doing so, shall be governed by the applicable Competition Rules and any separate instructions provided on the Website.
Article 11 (Submission and Receipt of Entries)
① Participants shall submit their Submissions within the period and in the manner and format specified in the applicable Competition Rules.
② Participants shall review all submitted information and attached files before making a final submission.
③ Whether a Submission may be modified or withdrawn, and the applicable deadline for doing so, shall be governed by the applicable Competition Rules or any separate instructions provided on the Website.
④ A Submission shall be deemed successfully received when the Website displays a submission completion screen or other confirmation of successful receipt. However, if it is subsequently confirmed that the Submission was not actually received due to a system failure or other technical issue, the matter shall be handled in accordance with separate instructions provided by the Foundation.
⑤ Where an issue concerning whether a Submission was successfully received arises due to a system failure, file transmission delay, or similar circumstance occurring around the submission deadline, the Foundation may determine the matter based on objective records, including access records and system logs.
Article 12 (Rights in Submissions)
① Unless otherwise provided by applicable laws or a separate agreement, copyrights and other intellectual property rights in a Submission prepared or submitted by a Participant shall remain with the Participant.
② The specific materials that the Foundation may use, as well as the purpose, manner, duration, and scope of such use, shall be governed by the applicable Competition Rules and any separate consent provided by the Participant.
③ If the Foundation seeks an assignment of intellectual property rights in a Submission or intends to use a Submission beyond the scope necessary for conducting the Competition, the Foundation may enter into a separate agreement with the Participant in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
④ If a Submission is found to involve plagiarism or misappropriation, infringement of a third party’s copyright, portrait rights, trademark rights, or other rights, violations relating to the use of generative AI or the terms and conditions of related services, or any other violation of the applicable Competition Rules, the Foundation may take measures including cancellation of the Submission, exclusion from judging, revocation of an award, or restriction of access to the Services.
Article 13 (Rights in Posts)
① Rights in a Post shall belong to the User who created the Post or to the lawful holder of such rights.
② When a User posts a Post on the Website, the Foundation may use such Post to the extent necessary to operate the Services, display and store the Post, and make it available to other Users.
③ The Foundation may delete, make private, restrict access to, or otherwise take appropriate measures with respect to any Post that contains or constitutes any of the following:
Content that violates applicable laws or regulations;
Content that defames another person or infringes their privacy, copyright, or other rights;
Abusive, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate content contrary to public order or accepted standards of decency;
Advertising, promotional, spam, or other content inconsistent with the purpose of the relevant bulletin board;
Content that disseminates false information or interferes with the operation of the Services;
Malicious code, viruses, or other content that may compromise the security or stability of information and communications systems; or
Any other content that violates these Terms of Use or applicable bulletin board policies.
Article 14 (Protection of Personal Information)
① The Foundation shall process Users’ personal information to the extent necessary for membership registration, Competition applications, and provision of the Services, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
② Details concerning the collection and use, retention and destruction, provision to third parties, entrustment of personal information processing, and the rights of data subjects in relation to personal information shall be governed by the Privacy Policy separately published by the Foundation.
③ Where the consent of a data subject is required for the processing of personal information, the Foundation shall provide the information required by applicable laws and regulations and obtain the necessary consent.
④ Matters requiring separate consent, including the provision of personal information to third parties, optional processing of personal information, and receipt of promotional or advertising communications, shall be distinguished from consent that is mandatory for membership registration or participation in a Competition.
Article 15 (Withdrawal from Membership and Restrictions on Membership Status)
① A Member may apply to withdraw from membership through the Website or request withdrawal from the Foundation at any time. The Foundation shall take the necessary measures without undue delay, except with respect to information that must be retained pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.
② The effect of membership withdrawal on a Competition application, Submission, judging process, or award result shall be governed by the applicable Competition Rules.
③ The Foundation may require a Member to cease the relevant conduct or may restrict the Member’s use of the Services if any of the following applies:
The Member provided false information when applying for membership;
The Member interferes with another person’s use of the Services or misappropriates another person’s personal information or account;
The Member violates applicable laws, these Terms of Use, the applicable Competition Rules, or other operating policies;
The Member infringes another person’s rights or engages in conduct contrary to public order or accepted standards of decency; or
There are other reasonable and substantial grounds for the Foundation to determine that continued provision of the Services to the Member would be inappropriate.
④ If a violation is serious or repeated, the Foundation may suspend the Member’s membership status or terminate the service agreement.
⑤ Where the Foundation imposes restrictions on a Member’s membership status or terminates the service agreement, it shall, in principle, notify the Member of the reason and provide the Member with an opportunity to provide an explanation. However, this shall not apply where urgent security measures are required or where applicable laws or regulations require immediate restriction of the Member’s use of the Services.
⑥ The processing and retention of personal information following membership withdrawal or loss of membership status shall be governed by applicable laws and regulations and the Foundation’s Privacy Policy.
Article 16 (Damages and Disclaimer of Liability)
① If the Foundation or a User causes damage to the other party by violating applicable laws or these Terms of Use, the party responsible for such violation shall compensate the other party for the resulting damage.
② The Foundation shall not be liable for any failure to provide the Services resulting from natural disasters, war, terrorism, hacking, suspension of services by telecommunications service providers, system failures, or other events of force majeure.
③ The Foundation shall not be liable for disruptions in the use of the Services, omissions or errors in Submissions, failure to make a Submission, or disputes between Non-Members or between Members that are attributable to a User, except where such loss or damage results from the Foundation’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.
④ The Foundation does not warrant the reliability, accuracy, or legality of information, materials, or factual statements posted by Users through the Services.
Article 17 (Notices and Notifications)
① Where the Foundation provides an individual notice to a Member, it may do so by email, text message, notification displayed on the Website, or any other method reasonably determined by the Foundation, using the contact information provided by the Member.
② Where notice is intended for an unspecified number of Users, the Foundation may provide such notice by posting it on the Website for at least seven (7) days in lieu of individual notification. However, this shall not apply where the matter materially affects Users and individual notification is required by applicable laws or regulations.
Article 18 (Handling of Complaints and Resolution of Disputes)
① The Foundation shall provide information on the Website regarding the department or contact point responsible for handling Users’ opinions or complaints.
② The Foundation shall make reasonable efforts to promptly review and address legitimate opinions or complaints submitted by Users.
③ In the event of a dispute between the Foundation and a User, the parties shall endeavor to resolve the dispute through mutual consultation.
Article 19 (Governing Law and Jurisdiction)
These Terms of Use and any dispute between the Foundation and a User shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Korea. Any legal action arising out of or in connection with such dispute shall be brought before a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the Civil Procedure Act of the Republic of Korea.
Supplementary Provision
These Terms of Use shall take effect on September 1, 2026.
In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the Korean and English versions of these Terms of Use, the Korean version shall prevail.