On Monday, Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, will meet with Jensen Huang, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nvidia, in New York City. The meeting coincides with the Korea Society’s annual gala, where Huang will receive the Van Fleet Award for his contributions to U.S.-Korea relations. Industry analysts view this high-profile visit as a strategic move to strengthen ties with Nvidia, a key player in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.
Beyond Samsung and SK, Hyundai Motor Group and LG Group are also deepening their involvement in Nvidia’s AI ecosystem. This coordinated effort suggests that South Korea’s Big Four conglomerates are collectively elevating their partnerships with the tech giant to unprecedented levels.
Lee, Choi, and Huang reunite after two months to celebrate Huang’s prestigious award.
Industry sources report that both chairmen will attend the Korea Society’s annual gala in New York at 6:00 p.m. local time on Monday. The Society highlighted how Nvidia and Korean firms are collaboratively shaping the future of global technology, acknowledging ongoing partnerships with companies like Samsung and SK.
The chairmen’s presence at the gala is widely interpreted as a calculated move to reinforce alliances with Nvidia, under the guise of congratulating Huang on his award.
An industry insider remarked that the fact that these titans of industry flew to New York for Huang’s award ceremony speaks volumes. It’s clearly a strategic play to cement ties with Nvidia.
Post-gala, Lee is set to fly directly to London, where the final overseas exhibition of the Lee Kun-hee Collection opens on October 1. Choi, fresh from accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit to Mexico, made a beeline for New York. Their packed itineraries underscore the paramount importance they place on strengthening cooperation with Nvidia.
Indeed, Samsung and SK are doubling down on their Nvidia collaborations. The tech giant has kicked off mass production of its next-gen AI accelerator, Vera Rubin, with plans to launch the successor, Rubin Ultra, next year. Both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are pivotal suppliers of Nvidia’s high-bandwidth memory (HBM).
Speculation is rife that discussions with Huang might center on expanding the supply of cutting-edge memory products, including HBM. However, the likelihood of in-depth business talks remains uncertain.
A seasoned industry observer noted that wile the gala setting may not be conducive to hardcore business negotiations, the mere presence of Lee and Choi speaks volumes about their commitment to the Nvidia partnership.
Nvidia is also fortifying ties with Hyundai Motor Group and LG Group. In a significant development, LG Electronics has been officially designated as a preferred partner in the Power and Cooling category within Nvidia’s Partner Network (NPN).
The NPN is Nvidia’s global ecosystem, bringing together diverse companies in hardware, software, services, and infrastructure, all leveraging Nvidia’s AI computing platform. This network facilitates connections between Nvidia’s partners and clients seeking solutions for AI data centers and factories.
Nvidia’s newly unveiled DSX Ready product line features six partner products, including three battery energy storage systems (BESS) and three cooling distribution units (CDU). Notably, LG Energy Solution has been tapped as a key partner in the BESS category.
Hyundai Motor Group is also accelerating its Nvidia collaboration. The automaker has outlined an ambitious roadmap to integrate Nvidia’s autonomous driving platform into mass-produced vehicles by 2028, followed by the deployment of its proprietary Artria AI autonomous driving technology from 2029 onward.
This two-pronged strategy allows Hyundai to leverage Nvidia’s proven technology while simultaneously refining its in-house capabilities. For Hyundai, this approach bridges technological gaps and buys time for internal development. Nvidia, in turn, expands its footprint in the automotive sector by deploying its platform across a major global automaker’s fleet.
The top brass at both Hyundai Motor Group and LG Group are personally spearheading these Nvidia partnerships. Euisun Chung, Hyundai’s chairman, engaged in a high-profile kkanbu (close friend) meeting with Huang last year. Meanwhile, LG Group’s chairman, Koo Kwang-mo, has cultivated a rapport with Huang through informal samgyeopsal and soju dinners. Koo’s August visit to Nvidia’s Santa Clara headquarters, where he inked a strategic cooperation agreement with Huang, further cements these ties.
