실리콘밸리의 거인, K-컬처와 사랑에 빠지다: 젠슨 황의 방한이 남긴 기록들 > K-wave Trends

What caught the most attention in Jensen Huang's schedule was the informal communication with heads of major domestic companies. The meeting held at an ordinary pork belly restaurant in Hongdae with leaders leading the Korean economy, including SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin, was an unconventional move that broke global business practices. In particular, Jensen Huang appeared on the entertainment program ‘You Quiz on the Block’ and brought a lot of laughter by personally telling the behind-the-scenes story of the time. He brightened the mood by joking that because he was the eldest, he left the role of grilling meat to Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, the youngest. He did not hide that he was completely fascinated by Korea's ‘Samso (pork belly and soju)’ culture. These human interactions went beyond business partnerships and became the foundation for forming deep trust and bonds with each other.

In terms of business, this visit also yielded great results. Jensen Huang solidified the core of the AI ​​semiconductor supply chain by strengthening his multi-year partnership with SK Hynix, and promised cooperation with Naver and SK Telecom to build AI infrastructure. In particular, during the meeting with Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Eui-sun Chung, a deep sense of agreement was formed, mentioning the pioneering spirit of the late Chairman Chung Ju-young. Chairman Chung Eui-sun expressed his respect by comparing Jensen Hwang's entrepreneurial spirit to that of his predecessor, and Jensen Hwang responded positively to Hyundai Motor Company's Saemangeum 'AI Valley' project and presented a blueprint for future technological cooperation. His statement that the future of AI supercomputers cannot be discussed without Korea's technological capabilities has once again imprinted the status of Korea's semiconductor and AI industries on the world stage.

Jensen Huang’s simple actions have created an unprecedented ‘Jensen Huang Special’ in the domestic food and beverage industry. The restaurants he visited and the menus he enjoyed quickly became a ‘pilgrimage’ course on social media and online communities, driving a surge in sales. In particular, BBQ drew a warm response by releasing a limited set focusing on Golden Olive Chicken and Crunch Boneless Crackers, which he enjoyed during his visit to Korea. When Jensen Huang, who threw out the first pitch at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, was shown enjoying chicken, the brand's awareness soared to a global level. This phenomenon goes beyond a simple trend, and clearly shows how seeing world-renowned celebrities directly experiencing Korean popular culture and consuming it positively can increase the national brand value.

The fact that a young businessman who used to wander around the Yongsan Electronics Mall handing out business cards in the 1990s returned as the head of the world's largest company by market capitalization completes a touching narrative. He clearly acknowledged the contribution of Korea's esports industry and star players like Faker to NVIDIA's growth, expressing his special affection for Korea. His attitude toward cherishing his relationship with Korea, which began 25 years ago, suggests that he perceives Korea not simply as a business base, but as a technological partner and a special place of inspiration. His farewell message at the end of his short five-day journey, “I will be back soon,” conveys his strong will to plan the future together with Korean companies.