Next Securities Successfully Concludes First Internal AI Ideathon

• AI Ideathon for Operational Efficiency Driven by Voluntary Planning and Idea-Centered Collaboration

• AI-Based Business Efficiency Realized Through Field-Focused Ideas

Next Securities announced on the 22nd that the company has successfully concluded its internal ‘NEXT 2025 Ideathon’ for its employees. An "Ideathon," a portmanteau of "idea" and "marathon," is a collaborative competition where participants discover and refine ideas based on specific themes over a set period.

The ‘NEXT 2025 Ideathon’ was designed to drive practical efficiency and innovation by applying AI technology across all business operations. The event was open to everyone regardless of role or department, specifically lowering barriers to entry so that non-developer employees could collaborate with developers to bring their ideas to life.

As a securities firm leveraging AI, the event aimed to build internal consensus on practical AI applications in the field, starting with spontaneous proposals from employees. Rather than being a top-down initiative led by specific departments or leaders, this ideathon allowed employees to propose ideas based on personal "pain points" and improvements they identified in their daily work. This fostered a culture where collaboration happened organically around shared ideas, regardless of rank or affiliation, focusing purely on problem-solving.

Over the two-week period from initial proposals to the final presentations, participants went beyond simple conceptualization. During the preliminaries, they refined their ideas based on feasibility. The finalist teams then completed actual prototypes by reviewing AI models, designing data structures, and elaborating user scenarios. A key achievement of this competition was the seamless collaboration between non-developer and developer roles, transforming ideas from mere "words" into "working results" and, ultimately, into a new "cultural movement" within the company.

Among numerous practical AI ideas aimed at operational efficiency and cultural improvement, the Grand Prize was awarded to the "Internal AI Audio Station for Next Securities Employees." This project received high marks for its potential to increase AI adoption and boost work immersion and learning efficiency by helping employees consume industry news more easily and naturally. Final winners were selected based on a combination of judge evaluations (50%) and real-time employee voting (50%).

Other notable winners included: ▲ an AI-based HR Assistant that automates HR document searches and tasks, ▲ an AI Meeting Navigator that summarizes meeting minutes and assists in task execution, and ▲ a Hyper-personalized AI Agent optimized for individual work characteristics. These outstanding ideas will undergo feasibility reviews for gradual integration into actual internal systems and business processes.

A Next Securities representative stated, “This ideathon has provided a platform where employees could personally experience business innovation by utilizing AI technology. We plan to use this event as a catalyst to expand the culture of AI utilization across the company and further revitalize our internal tech community."

Reviewed and Approved by Compliance Officer, Next Securities. Approval No.2025-026. (Valid from 2025.12.22 to 2026.12.21)