Lead

Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang concluded a five-day visit to South Korea, meeting with government officials and executives from major technology companies to discuss expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on physical AI, AI factories, and infrastructure. The visit, which ended Monday, produced several agreements and underscored South Korea's growing role in Nvidia's long-term AI strategy, as reported by Yonhap News.

Coverage Comparison

Yonhap News, South Korea's leading wire service, covered the visit in multiple reports, each focusing on different aspects of Huang's engagements. One report highlighted a meeting between Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon and Huang, where they discussed nurturing the local physical AI ecosystem. Another focused on a meeting between Huang and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, emphasizing future mobility technologies. A separate analysis piece framed the visit as a shift in Nvidia's strategy, from securing memory supplies to building an integrated AI ecosystem.

The reporting consistently depicted the visit as a significant step in strengthening ties between Nvidia and South Korea, with a tone that was informative and neutral.

Key Claims

  • Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Seoul on Monday to discuss cooperation in physical AI and AI ecosystem development. Bae said that strategic cooperation with Nvidia would enable South Korea to create successful AI applications across various industries, leveraging strengths in semiconductors and manufacturing.
  • The meeting took place ahead of the Korea AI Ecosystem Reception, hosted by Nvidia, which was attended by representatives from 18 companies, including Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Hyundai Motor Group, LG Electronics, and Naver.
  • Nvidia and SK hynix signed a multiyear technology partnership to jointly develop next-generation memory technologies for AI factories and future AI systems, including Nvidia's Vera Rubin platform.
  • During Huang's meeting with Hyundai Motor Group's Euisun Chung, the two discussed future mobility technologies and AI cooperation. Chung briefed Huang on the Saemangeum project, which involves transforming reclaimed land into a hub for AI, robotics, and hydrogen industries.
  • The Saemangeum project, announced in February, involves a 9 trillion-won (US$5.87 billion) investment to develop 1.12 million square meters of land, including an AI data center, a robotics cluster, and solar power facilities.
  • Naver and Nvidia announced plans to expand Naver's Gak Sejong data center using Nvidia's AI infrastructure technologies.
  • Nvidia pledged to deliver 260,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) to South Korea as part of the partnership.
  • Huang described mobility and physical AI as the next major wave of AI development, saying, "We are in the beginning of the AI revolution."
  • Huang and Chung reaffirmed the importance of creating tangible results from the partnership, which was agreed upon last year.

Perspectives

Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon (South Korean government)

Bae highlighted South Korea's potential in AI and semiconductors, expressing hope that the partnership with Nvidia would accelerate the country's AI development and produce successful use cases across industries.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang

Huang emphasized the strategic importance of partnering with South Korean companies across all areas of AI, from mobility to robotics and AI factories, and highlighted physical AI as the next major wave of development.

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung

Chung described Nvidia as an "indispensable" partner and expressed interest in Nvidia joining the Saemangeum project to build a comprehensive AI, robotics, and data center ecosystem.