Jensen Huang's Korea Visit: From Chicken-and-Beer Gatherings to AI Investment Expectations for Samsung, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and Naver
Why Jensen Huang Returned to South Korea
In June 2026, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang once again visited South Korea, drawing significant attention from investors, technology companies, and industry analysts.
Industry observers view it as a strategic move to expand cooperation beyond AI semiconductors into robotics, autonomous driving, AI factories, digital twins, and next-generation data centers.
As artificial intelligence becomes a key driver of global economic growth, South Korea is emerging as one of NVIDIA's most important strategic partners.
The Legendary "Kanbu Chicken and Beer" Gathering
Back in October 2025, Jensen Huang attended a casual dinner at a popular chicken restaurant in Seoul's Samseong-dong district.
The gathering reportedly included top executives from major Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group.
A single photo from the event quickly spread across the global technology community.
The image of world-class business leaders enjoying Korean fried chicken and beer became a symbol of Korea's unique business culture.
Many investors even joked that "chicken diplomacy" had become a new form of technology diplomacy.
The event also boosted public interest in Korean food culture and highlighted the informal yet effective networking style often seen in Korea's business world.
The 2026 Korean BBQ Summit
This year's meeting attracted even more attention.
A famous Korean BBQ restaurant near Hongdae was reportedly selected as the venue.
Business leaders rumored to be involved included:
- Chey Tae-won (SK Group)
- Koo Kwang-mo (LG Group)
- Lee Hae-jin (Naver Founder)
- Chung Euisun (Hyundai Motor Group)
- Potential participation from Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong
The choice of Hongdae, a district known for its youthful energy and innovative culture, reflects Jensen Huang's practical and open leadership style.
Instead of formal conference rooms, meaningful business discussions were once again held over one of Korea's most beloved foods—samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly).
Jensen Huang's Message to Korean Companies
During his visit, Huang delivered a powerful message:
"We have brought a lot of business to Korea."
He also emphasized expanded cooperation with Korean companies in several key sectors:
- Robotics
- AI Factories
- Digital Twins
- AI Data Centers
- Autonomous Vehicles
- HBM (High Bandwidth Memory)
Most importantly, he highlighted South Korea's growing role in the future of AI and robotics.
For investors, this was interpreted as a strong endorsement of Korea's position within the global AI supply chain.
Samsung Electronics Outlook
Positive Factors
Samsung Electronics is expected to play a larger role in NVIDIA's next-generation HBM4 ecosystem.
The company's advanced semiconductor technology and manufacturing capabilities make it a critical partner for future AI infrastructure.
Investment Highlights
- Expansion of HBM4 production
- Growing AI memory demand
- Strong relationship with NVIDIA
- Increasing demand for AI servers
Stock Outlook
Much of the AI optimism has already been reflected in Samsung's valuation.
However, successful mass production and large-scale HBM4 supply agreements could provide additional upside potential over the medium term.
SK Hynix Outlook
SK Hynix remains NVIDIA's most important HBM supplier.
The company has established itself as a leader in high-performance AI memory and continues to benefit from explosive demand for AI accelerators.
Investment Highlights
- Global leader in HBM technology
- Persistent supply shortages
- Expanding NVIDIA partnerships
- Growing high-margin product mix
Stock Outlook
Among Korean companies, SK Hynix is often viewed as the most direct beneficiary of the AI boom.
As long as AI infrastructure spending remains strong, earnings growth could continue at an impressive pace.
Hyundai Motor Outlook
Hyundai Motor is no longer just an automotive company.
The company is actively investing in robotics, autonomous driving, smart factories, and AI-powered manufacturing.
Jensen Huang specifically highlighted opportunities in Physical AI, a field where intelligent machines interact with the real world.
Growth Opportunities
- Robotics
- Autonomous Vehicles
- Smart Manufacturing
- Digital Twin Technology
The combination of Hyundai's manufacturing expertise and NVIDIA's AI platform could create significant long-term value.
Naver Outlook
Naver may be one of the most underrated beneficiaries of Jensen Huang's visit.
Investors are closely watching potential collaboration in:
- Sovereign AI
- Korean-language Large Language Models
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Robotics Platforms
As governments and businesses increasingly prioritize local AI ecosystems, Naver's position as Korea's leading internet and AI company could become even stronger.
Industries Expected to Benefit the Most
1. HBM Semiconductors
Primary beneficiaries:
- Samsung Electronics
- SK Hynix
HBM remains one of the most critical components powering advanced AI systems.
2. AI Data Centers
Potential beneficiaries:
- LG Electronics
- LG Energy Solution
- Data center equipment suppliers
As AI workloads continue to grow, demand for advanced data center infrastructure is expected to increase dramatically.
3. Robotics
Robotics was one of the sectors most strongly emphasized by Jensen Huang.
Korea's manufacturing expertise combined with NVIDIA's AI technology could accelerate the development of intelligent robots for industrial and commercial applications.
4. Autonomous Driving
The autonomous vehicle ecosystem continues to expand.
Companies such as Hyundai Motor could benefit significantly from deeper integration with NVIDIA's AI platforms and computing technologies.
Key Takeaways for Investors
Jensen Huang's Korea visit was much more than a series of social gatherings.
What began as informal meetings over Korean fried chicken and beer has evolved into discussions about the future of:
HBM → AI Data Centers → Robotics → Autonomous Vehicles → National AI Infrastructure
From an investment perspective, the market currently views the potential beneficiaries in the following order:
- SK Hynix (most direct AI beneficiary)
- Samsung Electronics (HBM4 growth potential)
- Hyundai Motor (robotics and autonomous driving)
- Naver (sovereign AI and cloud services)
- LG Group (AI infrastructure expansion)
For many investors, Jensen Huang's visit signals that South Korea is becoming an increasingly important hub in the global AI revolution.
The partnerships being discussed today could shape the next decade of innovation across semiconductors, mobility, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
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