Meeting Arranged at Nvidia's Suggestion
Expected Discussions on AI Semiconductor and Mobility Collaboration
Expanding Cooperation: Samsung's HBM Supply, Hyundai's Autonomous Driving, SK's AI Centers
Nvidia to Announce AI Semiconductor Supply Cont
Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, who is visiting Korea for the first time in 15 years, is scheduled to meet with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun at a chicken restaurant near Samseong Station in Seoul on October 30. The three leaders, representing the global semiconductor and mobility industries, will gather for an unprecedented "chimaek" (chicken and beer) meeting.
According to the business community on October 29, this gathering was initiated at the suggestion of Nvidia. CEO Huang reportedly expressed his desire to experience Korea’s chimaek culture firsthand and engage in an open, candid conversation. Samsung and Hyundai Motor coordinated their schedules after receiving a request from Nvidia’s staff to arrange the meeting.
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun are greeting attending business leaders at the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit held at Gyeongju Arts Center in Gyeongbuk on October 29, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
This meeting is regarded as more than a simple social gathering; it is seen as an informal discussion on collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors and future mobility among the three companies. Samsung Electronics is preparing to supply Nvidia with its next-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM) product, the HBM3E 12-layer, and is also developing HBM4. Strengthening the partnership with Nvidia is crucial for expanding the supply of memory for AI computing.
On October 31, the day after the "chimaek meeting," Nvidia plans to sign and officially announce new AI semiconductor supply agreements with major Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver. These contracts aim to expand cooperation in AI computing graphics processing units (GPUs) and next-generation semiconductors, in line with Korean conglomerates’ efforts to strengthen their AI infrastructure.
Hyundai Motor Group entered into a strategic partnership with Nvidia in January to jointly develop AI-based technologies such as robotics, autonomous driving, and smart factories. Together with its robotics affiliate Boston Dynamics, Hyundai is also considering the application of AI chips for vehicles.
SK Group is likewise strengthening its partnership with Nvidia. SK Hynix has become a key memory partner for Nvidia by supplying HBM3E, and SK Telecom is working with Nvidia to build AI data centers.
Chairman Lee and Chairman Chung are staying in Gyeongju to attend the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit and will travel to Seoul for the meeting, then return to Gyeongju on the morning of October 31 to attend a dinner hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping. CEO Huang is also scheduled to speak at a special session of the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju on the same day.
Meanwhile, Nvidia’s market capitalization surpassed $5 trillion (approximately 7,100 trillion won) for the first time on October 29 (local time). On the New York Stock Exchange that day, Nvidia’s share price closed at $207.04, up 2.99% from the previous trading day.
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