Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (middle) poses for a photograph with Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group’s Chung Eui-sun after having a meal of fried rooster and beer at a rooster joint in Seoul’s Samseong neighborhood on Oct. 30, 2025. (pool picture)
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang feasted on fried rooster and beer with Samsung Electronics Chairperson Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairperson Chung Eui-sun on Thursday. The chief mentioned strategies to ascertain the AI ecosystem with Samsung Electronics, which has cleared Nvidia’s check for its newest fifth-generation high-bandwidth reminiscence know-how, and Hyundai Motors, which excels within the autonomous driving and robotics sector.
Huang, who has beforehand known as South Korean firms invaluable companions for cooperation within the synthetic intelligence sector, made his first go to to South Korea in 15 years for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation CEO summit.
The three executives convened at a Kkanbu Rooster department in Seoul’s Gangnam space at 7:30 pm. Donning his signature black leather-based jacket, Huang waved warmly to the onlookers gathered exterior, a few of whom known as his title and shouted, “Welcome to Korea!” as he entered the fried rooster joint. After telling the group to anticipate “excellent news” the next day, Huang took a seat at a desk.
He greeted Lee and Chung, who entered the restaurant shortly afterwards, offered Nvidia’s AI supercomputer DGX Spark and a bottle of Japanese single malt whisky as items, earlier than starting the informal chicken-and-beer summit in earnest. The assembly lasted for about an hour.
Huang hinted at an announcement that may make Korea and US President Donald Trump very completely happy throughout the Nvidia GTC 2025, which was held in Washington DC, on Tuesday. He then pointed to varied Korean firms, akin to Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor Group and Naver, as key companions for potential collaboration in areas akin to semiconductors, essential parts of synthetic intelligence, and autonomous driving, which is attracting consideration as a future progress engine.
Huang downplayed considerations over an AI bubble, which have been raised by the IMF, in an earlier interview with Bloomberg Tv, stating, “I don’t consider we’re in an AI bubble. All of those totally different AI fashions we’re utilizing — we’re utilizing loads of providers and paying fortunately to do it.”
Huang has just lately secured funding offers with Germany’s Deutsche Telekom AG and Finland’s Nokia Oyj to construct large-scale knowledge facilities. This flurry of latest partnerships provides motive to consider that South Korean firms could also be subsequent in line for such alternatives.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang presents Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group’s Chung Eui-sun with presents throughout their dinner assembly at a rooster joint in Seoul’s Samseong neighborhood on Oct. 30, 2025. (pool picture)
The identical day, Samsung Electronics introduced that it had handed Nvidia’s high quality check for its fifth-generation HBM chips. Contemplating that Nvidia might require extra cutting-edge, high-end sixth-generation reminiscence know-how beginning subsequent 12 months, Samsung Electronics could possibly be securing an vital shopper amid the rising demand for HBM and reminiscence chips.
Through the Nvidia GTC Paris occasion in June, Huang had advised that that is the “decade of AV” — that’s, autonomous autos — “robotics and autonomous machines,” expressing an curiosity in these sectors.
In September, Huang pledged to speculate US$500 million in UK startup Wayve, an autonomous car know-how developer. Nvidia can also be an vital investor in China’s WeRide, one other firm commercializing self-driving autos. Hyundai Motors is a key Nvidia collaborator in autonomous driving and can also be rising funding within the robotics sector by way of its acquisition of Boston Dynamics.
Following this jolly chicken-and-beer assembly, Huang attended an occasion commemorating the twenty fifth anniversary of the GeForce graphics card’s launch in South Korea. He then traveled to Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the place the 2025 APEC discussion board is being held, and is scheduled to ship a particular lecture earlier than the CEO summit closes on Friday.
By Kwon Hyo-jung, employees reporter
Please direct questions or feedback to [english@hani.co.kr]
