A chance meeting at Kkanbu Chicken in Seoul turned into a viral spectacle this week, when Nvidia
CEO Jensen Huang shared dinner and business news with leaders of Samsung
and Hyundai
, sending shockwaves through South Korea’s tech and food sectors.
Billionaires Bond over Chicken, Market Surges
On the eve of the APEC summit, Huang dined with Samsung’s Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai’s Chung Eui-sun, relaxing over fried chicken (“chimaek”) and beer. Their casual outing drew massive crowds, eager for autographs and photos. In a gesture of camaraderie, Huang brought $4,000 Nvidia DGX Spark mini computers as gifts, while the group covered the tab for everyone in the restaurant—about $1,800 worth of food and drinks.
The event’s social media buzz spread so widely that Korean food and robotics stocks—like Kyochon F&B and Newmeka—surged as much as 30%, and Kkanbu Chicken saw unprecedented sales.
Deeper Ties in AI and Chips
After dinner, Nvidia announced a partnership with South Korea’s government and major firms, including Samsung and Hyundai, to supply hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips for self-driving tech, semiconductors, and robotics. The gathering marked a milestone: Nvidia’s market cap soared above $5 trillion, making it the world’s most valuable public company.
As the billionaires toasted “to partnership and the future of the world,” the event signaled both a business breakthrough and a celebration of global friendship. The fusion of pop culture, business, and tech at a humble chicken shop became the story of the week in South Korea.