During his visit to South Korea this week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is not only meeting with South Korean chip memory and robotics industry leaders. He is also scheduled to appear on a popular television program and throw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game in the country.
This engagement underscores South Korea's growing importance in the global AI ecosystem. It also marks Huang's second visit to South Korea in seven months.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix currently produce about 70% of the memory required for AI chips like those from Nvidia. Furthermore, South Korea's strengths in manufacturing and robotics position it as a crucial link in the physical AI system, which integrates AI into robots, vehicles, and factories.
"Nvidia is increasingly dependent on South Korean suppliers," Jeff Kim, an analyst at KB Securities, wrote in a report. Huang "needs a manufacturing location for physical AI, and South Korea is emerging as the perfect testing ground."
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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics President Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Group President Euisun Chung at a fried chicken restaurant in Seoul, October 2025. *Photo: Reuters*
Asia's fourth-largest economy is also a major Nvidia customer. Last October, the company announced plans to supply more than 260,000 advanced AI chips to the South Korean government and several leading businesses.
Analysts and investors note South Korea's increasing significance as trade tensions diminish sales of advanced semiconductor products to Trung Quoc. Seung-yub Lee, Director of Quad Investment Management, stated, "Meanwhile, South Korean companies are operating high-tech factories that need many of these chips."
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged that investment in AI will be a top policy priority, aiming to establish the country as one of the three largest AI powers globally. This policy also seeks to mitigate the economic impact of a declining population.
"South Korea is a critical part of our ecosystem," Huang told reporters during a dinner with South Korean technology leaders in Dai Loan on 1/6, the opening day of the Computex technology exhibition.
He highlighted the potential for collaboration in robotics when asked where Nvidia might invest, noting that "South Korea is a manufacturing nation with population limits." He added, "We have a lot more to do together."
Huang's strategy also involves engaging with the nation of 50 million people. He will appear on "You Quiz on the Block," one of South Korea's most popular talk shows. He will also wear a Doosan Bears baseball team jersey to perform the ceremonial first pitch during a game on 7/6. Doosan Group President Park Jeong-won will take a ceremonial swing. Doosan member companies currently produce robots and materials used in Nvidia's Blackwell chips.
Park Ju-gun, Director of the corporate analysis firm Leaders Index, believes Huang drew lessons from his October 2025 visit. That meeting at a fried chicken restaurant in South Korea with Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor leaders garnered significant media attention.
Fried chicken served with cold draft beer, known as "chimaek," is a "must-try" dish for anyone visiting South Korea. The three technology leaders enjoyed this combo at Kkanbu Chicken restaurant in Gangnam district during the APEC conference.
In Korean, the word "kkanbu" is broadly understood as "close friend" or "trusted partner." It gained global recognition through Netflix's "Squid Game," where it symbolized loyalty between allies.
Huang revealed few details when asked which South Korean business leaders he would meet this time. However, cuisine is again a key part of his schedule. According to local media, he may attend a Korean BBQ dinner in Sungsu, Seoul, with leaders from SK Group, Hyundai Motor, and LG Group.
Reuters previously reported that Huang would likely meet LG Group President Koo Kwang-mo and leaders from Naver, South Korea's largest online platform.
Ha Thu (according to Reuters)
