[Anchor]

From cafeteria trays that prevent soup from spilling to AI pillows that reduce snoring, ingenious inventions that adults hadn't even thought of have been created by the hands of youth. The Jang Yeong-sil Startup and Invention Contest has been held, turning everyday inconveniences into new startup ideas.

TJB reporter Jeon Yu-jin reports.

[Reporter]

A portable umbrella cover that maximizes waterproof effects by utilizing discarded waste banners.

It is an idea devised directly by an elementary school student to consider the environment and reduce slipping accidents.

The harrowing everyday experience of spilling hot soup while carrying a cafeteria tray has also been reborn as an ingenious invention.

Inspired by the structure of breakwaters at the beach, breakwater principles such as bottom protrusions and a gentle ridge were applied to the tray to prevent the soup from sloshing.

[Noh Jun-o / 5th grade, Pangyo Daejang Elementary School: The safe wave-barrier cafeteria tray wasn't just made by putting up with overflowing soup; it was born as thoughts of why and how led to an idea.]

In addition, various presentations solving everyday worries continued, ranging from a "smart AI pillow" thought up after experiencing discomfort from a dorm roommate's severe snoring to "Nonbi," which helps farming by recording daily growth changes in rice plants.

More than 400 teams nationwide applied for the preliminary rounds of the 17th Jang Yeong-sil Startup and Invention Contest, engaging in fierce competition.

[Lee Sae-bom, Lim Su-a, Jeon Ju-yeong / Grand Prize Winners in the Idea Category: We didn't expect to win the grand prize, so we are happy to have this great opportunity. (The invention) minimizes contact by inserting fishing line into a soap dish to make it float in the air.]

Hoseo University, which hosted the event, stated that it will spare no support so that the challenges of students and prospective entrepreneurs can lead to actual startups and industrial development.

The inventive passion of young people who have solved inconveniences with a fresh perspective is breathing new vitality into the regional startup ecosystem.

(Video by Sung Nak-jung / TJB)

Jeon Yu-jin, TJB