The “Chicken Meeting” of Samsung, Hyundai, and NVIDIA CEOs — Meaning, Location, and What It Says About Korea’s Tech Future

Everyone’s been talking about the so-called “chicken meeting” where Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang met for a casual dinner at a chicken restaurant in Seoul. 🍗 What’s the story behind it? Why did these three industry titans choose a humble fried chicken spot instead of a five-star hotel? Let’s break down what this meeting really means — from Korea’s AI ambitions to global semiconductor collaboration — in a way that’s easy and honest to understand.

1. The Real Meaning Behind the “Chicken Meeting”
2. Where Did They Meet? The Famous Kkanbu Chicken Location
3. What Kind of Place Is Kkanbu Chicken?
4. The Meaning of NVIDIA’s 260,000 GPU Supply to Korea
5. The Relationship Between Korea and NVIDIA
6. Samsung, Hyundai, and NVIDIA-Related Stocks
7. The Net Worth of Lee Jae-yong, Chung Eui-sun, and Jensen Huang
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) The Real Meaning Behind the “Chicken Meeting”

This wasn’t just a casual meal — it was a symbolic moment for Korea’s technology ecosystem. Three of the world’s most influential corporate leaders gathered informally to discuss cooperation in AI, semiconductors, and mobility. Instead of meeting behind closed doors in a hotel, they shared fried chicken and beer at a small local franchise. That choice said a lot — it signaled openness, equality, and a spirit of partnership, not hierarchy.

In the AI era, Samsung leads in chips, Hyundai leads in mobility, and NVIDIA dominates AI computing. The three industries — semiconductors, cars, and AI — are converging fast, and this dinner symbolized that future alliance. Many in Korea saw it as a “turning point” moment that showcased Korea’s relevance in the next generation of global tech.

2) Where Did They Meet? The Famous Kkanbu Chicken Location

According to multiple local reports, the meeting took place at Kkanbu Chicken’s Daechi Branch in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The restaurant quickly became a viral spot, drawing crowds and fans hoping to sit at the “legendary table.” Daechi-dong is known as a hub for both elite education and corporate offices, making it a convenient, unpretentious choice for a high-profile get-together. Employees and nearby residents said it was a quiet, friendly evening — no formality, no entourage, just three CEOs enjoying fried chicken and conversation.

3) What Kind of Place Is Kkanbu Chicken?

Kkanbu Chicken is a well-known Korean fried chicken chain that started in the early 2000s. The name “Kkanbu” (깐부) comes from a Korean slang meaning “close friends” or “teammates,” famously popularized again by Netflix’s Squid Game. The brand emphasizes friendship and casual comfort — an ironic yet perfect match for this meeting. Their signature menu includes soy garlic chicken, crispy original fried chicken, and sweet-spicy yangnyeom sauce, served with beer or soda in a laid-back setting. After the meeting, many locals called it the “Silicon Valley Summit over chicken.”

4) The Meaning of NVIDIA’s 260,000 GPU Supply to Korea

NVIDIA recently announced plans to supply around 260,000 high-performance GPUs to Korea for AI computing centers. This is huge — it represents one of the largest single-country allocations in Asia. It shows NVIDIA’s trust in Korea’s AI infrastructure and manufacturing ecosystem. Samsung and SK Hynix already supply NVIDIA with memory chips, and Korean cloud providers like Naver and Kakao are building data centers optimized for AI workloads. So this supply agreement strengthens both sides — Korea gains computing power, and NVIDIA gains long-term industrial partners.

5) The Relationship Between Korea and NVIDIA

Korea is one of NVIDIA’s most critical partners. Not only do Korean companies produce key components for NVIDIA GPUs, but they also deploy NVIDIA’s platforms in self-driving cars, smart factories, and defense systems. Samsung has previously manufactured some NVIDIA chips on its foundry lines, and Hyundai is adopting NVIDIA’s Drive platform in future autonomous vehicles. This relationship represents a two-way bridge: Korea provides manufacturing excellence and integration capability, while NVIDIA provides the AI brains powering next-gen industries.

6) Samsung, Hyundai, and NVIDIA-Related Stocks

After the chicken meeting went public, Korean AI and semiconductor-related stocks surged. Investors interpreted the gathering as a sign of deeper collaboration. Here are a few examples often discussed by analysts (for information purposes only, not financial advice):

• Samsung Electronics (005930.KS): Benefiting from AI memory demand and foundry growth.
• Hyundai Motor (005380.KS): Advancing in autonomous driving with NVIDIA Drive integration.
• SK Hynix (000660.KS): Supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for NVIDIA’s GPUs.
• Hanmi Semiconductor, Nepes Ark: Korean packaging firms tied to AI chip manufacturing.
• NAVER & Kakao: Domestic firms building AI clouds potentially using NVIDIA GPUs.

7) The Net Worth of Lee Jae-yong, Chung Eui-sun, and Jensen Huang

As of late 2025 estimates based on Bloomberg and Forbes data:

Name	Position	Estimated Net Worth (USD)
Lee Jae-yong	Chairman, Samsung Electronics	≈ $9–10 billion
Chung Eui-sun	Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group	≈ $4–5 billion
Jensen Huang	CEO, NVIDIA	≈ $110–120 billion

These figures fluctuate with market capitalization and stock ownership, but they reflect each leader’s influence in their respective industries.

8) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Why did they choose a chicken restaurant instead of a hotel?
It was a symbolic gesture of equality and friendship, reflecting a down-to-earth approach to cooperation.

Q2. Did they discuss official business?
While no official statement was released, industry watchers believe AI chips, EV tech, and supply partnerships were key topics.

Q3. Is NVIDIA planning deeper investment in Korea?
Yes. Jensen Huang hinted at potential collaborations with Korean tech firms and universities during his visit.

Q4. Why is this meeting significant?
It visually represented Korea’s central role in the global AI supply chain and industry alliances.

Q5. How did the public react?
Most Koreans viewed it positively—seeing it as a moment of pride and a cultural gesture of humility.

Q6. Will Kkanbu Chicken benefit from this?
Definitely! The branch saw a surge in visitors and brand mentions across global media.

Q7. How big is NVIDIA’s presence in Korea?
NVIDIA works closely with data centers, automakers, and semiconductor manufacturers in Korea.

Q8. What does this mean for Korean AI startups?
Access to NVIDIA GPUs and global attention can accelerate local AI innovation.

Q9. Did Jensen Huang meet other Korean leaders?
Yes, he also met government officials and university researchers during his stay.

Q10. Could this meeting signal long-term collaboration?
Highly likely — this was more than a dinner; it’s the start of deeper tech partnerships between global and Korean giants.

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At first glance, it was just three men eating chicken. But behind that simple scene lies a powerful story about technology, humility, and global cooperation. The “chicken meeting” showed the world that Korea is not just a manufacturing powerhouse—it’s a central player in the AI revolution. And sometimes, the most important conversations happen not in boardrooms, but over shared food and laughter.