Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met with three of South Korea's most powerful business leaders for an informal dinner in Seoul on May 5 [1].
The gathering signals a deepening strategic alignment between the world's leading AI chip designer and the South Korean conglomerates that provide critical memory chips and software infrastructure. By choosing a casual setting over a corporate boardroom, the executives emphasized a personal rapport aimed at strengthening long-term technological partnerships.
The dinner took place at a pork-belly restaurant named “형님저요,” located near Hongdae-Ipgu Station in the Mapo-gu district [1]. The menu featured traditional grilled pork belly, accompanied by soju and beer, a combination known in Korea as "somaek" [1].
Four executives participated in the meal [1]. Along with Huang, the group included SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin [1].
Timing for the meeting was precise. The Korean chairmen entered the restaurant at 6:52 p.m. [1]. Huang arrived shortly after at 7:10 p.m. [1].
The meal was part of Huang's official visit to South Korea. Local reports said the dinner was the most talked-about event of his itinerary, serving as a venue for informal networking among the leaders of the global AI ecosystem [1].
“The gathering signals a deepening strategic alignment between the world's leading AI chip designer and South Korean conglomerates.”
This meeting underscores the interdependence of the AI supply chain. Nvidia relies on SK Hynix (under SK Group) for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and LG for hardware integration, while Naver seeks to optimize its AI models using Nvidia's architecture. The informal nature of the dinner suggests a move toward 'relationship-based' diplomacy to secure supply chains amidst global chip shortages and geopolitical tensions.
