In South Korea, fried chicken and beer (known as ‘chimaek’) is a cherished meal, a comfort food shared by families and workers unwinding after a long day. It’s certainly not a scene typically frequented by the world’s most influential billionaires.
Yet, hundreds of onlookers and media converged outside an ordinary fried chicken joint in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam district recently. Their focus: a surprising public appearance by three titans of industry: Jensen Huang, the dynamic CEO of Nvidia; Lee Jae-yong, the executive chairman of Samsung Electronics; and Euisun Chung, the executive chairman of Hyundai Motor Group.
Inside the bustling restaurant, these celebrated business figures shared warm embraces, clinked glasses, and even playfully linked arms for beer shots, a gesture of deep friendship in Korean culture.
“So good,” Mr. Huang declared, referring to the chicken wings, while addressing his companions with casual familiarity – ‘Jay’ for Mr. Lee and ‘E.S.’ for Mr. Chung.
This informal gathering, visibly staged at a window-side table, was particularly striking in South Korea, where top conglomerate executives usually maintain strict decorum and privacy. Their relaxed demeanor underscored a deepening bond between Nvidia, the prominent American chipmaker, and South Korea’s leading technology and automotive sectors.
Following their meal, the trio made a joint appearance at a nearby Nvidia gamer festival, where Mr. Huang hinted at an impending business announcement.
Indeed, the very next day, the three companies, along with the South Korean government and other major conglomerates, unveiled a significant deal: Nvidia is set to provide hundreds of thousands of advanced graphics chips. This collaboration aims to propel South Korea’s advancements in autonomous driving, semiconductor development, and robotics. This news came shortly after Nvidia’s market valuation soared, surpassing $5 trillion to become the world’s most valuable public company.
Mr. Huang, 62, is no stranger to public engagement, having previously made similar appearances in his birth country, Taiwan. There, he has greeted fans, posed for selfies, and autographed everything from computer chips and laptops to a woman’s clothing.
However, this chimaek outing marked Mr. Huang’s first such public interaction in South Korea. His visit, his first in 15 years, was primarily for meetings with business leaders during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
The impromptu roadside spectacle drew a massive crowd outside the Kkanbu Chicken franchise, with hundreds of phones raised to capture the moment. Police officers struggled to manage the excited crowd, repeatedly blowing whistles and urging people not to push.
According to Jung Kyongman, who oversees Kkanbu Chicken’s management support team, Nvidia had made the reservation at this particular branch, where one of its employees was a regular customer. Upon realizing the high-profile nature of their guests, staff ensured the restaurant was meticulously cleaned.
The billionaires’ public dining experience generated immense buzz across South Korea, causing sales at the Kkanbu Chicken franchise to skyrocket. Some branches even reported selling out of fried chicken.
“I’m just surprised at the sudden interest,” Mr. Jung commented, expressing his astonishment at the sheer volume of people who turned out.
Upon their arrival, Mr. Huang draped his signature black leather jacket over his chair. He presented his South Korean counterparts with 25-year-old Japanese Hakushu whiskey, a gift valued at thousands of dollars, and Nvidia’s newly released $4,000 mini-computer, the DGX Spark. News footage captured Mr. Lee proudly displaying his new mini-computer to the cameras.
“Are we going to have something to drink?” Mr. Huang asked. Mr. Lee, 57, promptly called for beer in Korean. He and Mr. Chung, 55, then eagerly opened Mr. Huang’s thoughtful gifts.
A message personally signed by Mr. Huang to his dinner companions read, “To our partnership and future of the world!”
Throughout the evening, Mr. Huang frequently left the table to engage with the crowd, handing out popular Korean snacks like gimbap, banana-flavored milk, and fried cheese sticks.
After their meal concluded, one of the billionaires generously covered the $1,800 tab for all other customers present at the restaurant that night.
“This is the best way to enjoy chimaek,” Mr. Huang remarked, posing for photographs with Mr. Lee and Mr. Chung before their departure, cementing a memorable evening of high-stakes business blended with simple, shared pleasure.