NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang toasts 'Go Korea!' at Seoul barbecue with SK, LG, Naver chiefs

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang kicked off his visit to South Korea with a high-profile dinner, bringing together the heads of SK Group, LG Group, and Naver. The gathering, held at a barbecue restaurant in Seoul's vibrant Hongdae district, signaled a strong commitment to deepening collaboration in the artificial intelligence sector.

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Go Korea!, Go SK!, Go LG!, Go Naver!

Huang, known for his influential role in the global AI chip market, engaged in what was described as a "brotherly meeting" with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Naver Global Investment Officer Lee Hae-jin. This informal setting, featuring Korean barbecue and drinks, followed a similar high-profile meeting last year. During the dinner, Huang raised a toast, exclaiming "Go Korea!, Go SK!, Go LG!, Go Naver!" He also expressed his delight at the "blooming" businesses of his "friends" in South Korea, including SK Hynix, Samsung, LG, Hyundai Motor, and Naver.

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My friends' businesses at SK Hynix, Samsung, LG, Hyundai Motor, Naver are blooming. I am very happy that business is going well.

Earlier in the day, Huang visited a T1 esports facility, meeting with "Faker" Lee Sang-hyeok and other League of Legends players. He even gifted a unique, signed GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, jokingly valuing it at around $1 million. This visit underscores South Korea's critical role not only as a supplier of key components like High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) but also as an optimal "testbed" for advanced infrastructure in sectors like automotive and home appliances.

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Today is a casual gathering to build friendships, and specific business discussions will take place at a working-level meeting on Monday (8th).

Huang's extended 3-night, 4-day stay highlights NVIDIA's strategic focus on strengthening ties with South Korea's manufacturing sector, essential for expanding its AI ecosystem. He indicated plans to establish an AI research center in Seoul, a move that aligns with NVIDIA's recent job postings for "Physical AI" roles based in the city. The CEO's itinerary also includes a recording for a variety show, discussions on game technology with Krafton Chairman Chang Byung-gyu, and visits to LG, Hyundai, and Naver facilities, as well as a meeting with the Minister of Science and ICT.

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I'm hungry.