Nvidia to build R&D center in South Korea

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang wrapped up a high-profile visit to South Korea this week, meeting with the founders of the country's leading game companies, top business executives, and esports royalty while deepening ties across AI, robotics, and semiconductors. Huang held separate meetings at PC gaming cafes in Seoul's Gangnam district with Krafton founder Chang Byung-gyu and NC founder Kim Taek-jin on Sunday, discussing Nvidia's RTX Spark chip and potential AI collaboration, while also attending NC's Aion 2 user event and giving away the latest GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards. Earlier in the trip, Huang made his first stop at T1 Base Camp to meet League of Legends legend Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, celebrating the 25-year partnership between Nvidia's GeForce brand and Korea's gaming community. The visit was marked by elaborate social engagements, including a pork belly dinner in Seoul's Hongdae district with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, where Huang toasted "Go Korea!" over glasses of somaek. He announced that Nvidia will build a research and development center in Korea, highlighting the country's expertise in AI, robotics, and semiconductors while noting that Korean suppliers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix produce critical memory chips used in Nvidia's products. Huang also filmed an episode of the popular Korean TV show "YouQuiz on the Block" hosted by Yoo Jae-suk and was scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Doosan Bears game on Sunday evening, wearing jersey number 93 in honor of Nvidia's founding year. On Monday, Huang's final day in Korea, he was expected to meet with Seoul National University's AI Institute and robotics lab, as well as executives from LG Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver to discuss broadening Nvidia's ties with Korea's AI and robotics ecosystem. He was also scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting with Korean AI and robotics startup executives including Upstage, Nota, RLWRLD, and Aei Robot at The Shilla Seoul, and meet Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon to discuss GPU supply. According to a Reuters report, Huang and SK Group Chairman Chey were set to announce a cooperation plan between the two companies on Monday.