Nvidia CEO, Samsung & Hyundai Chiefs Treat Seoul Restaurant to Fried Chicken Feast

Three of the world’s leading technology executives – Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun – unexpectedly paid for the entire bill at a popular Seoul fried chicken restaurant yesterday, delighting fellow diners.

The trio visited Kkanbu Chicken in the South Korean capital ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, enjoying a traditional “chimaek” meal of fried chicken and beer, along with cheese balls, cheese sticks, and soju. “I love fried chicken and beer with my friends, so Kkanbu is a perfect place, right?” Huang told onlookers, referencing the restaurant’s name which also means “close friend” in Korean slang. Video footage showed the three, whose combined net worth is approximately $195 billion, linking arms for a celebratory beer toast – a gesture signifying camaraderie in South Korean drinking culture.

Huang initiated the gesture of generosity by ringing the restaurant’s “golden bell” to cover the bill for all patrons, though Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong ultimately paid, with Chung Eui-sun covering a second round of drinks, according to Yonhap News Agency. Huang was seen offering chicken and cheese sticks to the gathered crowd, asking, “The chicken wings was so good. Have you been here before? It’s incredible, right?” and “Anyone? Fried chicken?” This display of goodwill comes as global competition intensifies for access to advanced semiconductor technology, like that produced by Nvidia.

Following the meal, Huang met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the APEC summit and announced Nvidia will provide over 260,000 graphics processing units to South Korean companies, including Samsung and Hyundai, as well as Naver and SK, to bolster AI development, particularly in areas like autonomous vehicles. You can learn more about the growing importance of AI chips at the Semiconductor Industry Association website. This investment signals a deepening collaboration between the US and South Korea in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, as detailed in a recent White House statement.

Officials stated that further discussions regarding AI cooperation and economic partnerships are expected to continue throughout the APEC summit.