Why Are Titans of Industry Meeting at Kkanbu Chicken?
Why Are Industry Titans Meeting at Kkanbu Chicken?
On October 30, 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited South Korea via Incheon Airport for the first time in 15 years. His visit is drawing significant attention, not merely as a personal trip, but due to his planned meetings with key figures in the South Korean economy. In particular, news that Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang are scheduled to have a 'chimaek meeting' (chicken and beer) at a 'Kkanbu Chicken' restaurant near Samsung Station in Seoul this evening has sparked widespread speculation and interpretation. Why are these business leaders meeting at a relatively casual chicken restaurant instead of a more formal setting? What is the significance of this meeting? It's necessary to analyze this gathering from various perspectives.
Some predict that this 'chimaek meeting' goes beyond simple networking and will involve in-depth discussions related to future technological collaborations. Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group are leading companies in the semiconductor and automotive industries, respectively, while Nvidia possesses unparalleled technological prowess in the fields of artificial intelligence and GPUs. Therefore, there's speculation that this meeting could lead to strategic alliances aimed at combining each company's strengths and leading future technology trends. In particular, as Nvidia's technology is expected to play a crucial role in core future technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and next-generation semiconductors, this meeting could serve as an important stepping stone for building long-term collaborative relationships. The fact that Lee Jae-yong, Chung Euisun, and Jensen Huang are key figures responsible for the future strategies of their respective groups further amplifies the significance of this meeting.
Meanwhile, Jensen Huang's itinerary for this visit includes attending Nvidia's 'GeForce' event at COEX, as well as speaking at a special session of the 'Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit' held in Gyeongju on the 31st. In addition to these official events, there's also an analysis that suggests he intends to build a close network with the South Korean business community through informal meetings with business leaders. Jensen Huang is expected to emphasize Nvidia's investment intentions in the South Korean market and expand cooperation with South Korean companies during this visit. In particular, South Korea possesses world-class information and communication technology infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce, making it a very important market for Nvidia. Therefore, this 'chimaek meeting' can be interpreted as part of Nvidia's strategy to strengthen its position in the South Korean market and secure long-term growth engines.
Furthermore, there's a perspective that focuses on the symbolic meaning of the location, 'Kkanbu Chicken.' 'Kkanbu' is a pure Korean word meaning colleague or friend, suggesting an intention to create an atmosphere where communication can be open and comfortable. The analysis suggests that 'Kkanbu Chicken' was chosen as the optimal location to break away from a rigid and formal atmosphere, share ideas freely, and generate new ones. In particular, corporate culture has recently been shifting towards prioritizing horizontal communication and creative ideas, and it appears that business leaders are also seeking to build more flexible and innovative collaborative relationships through informal meetings in line with this change. The 'chimaek meeting' of business leaders, which would have been unimaginable in the past, is a symbolic scene that showcases the changing corporate culture of South Korea.
In conclusion, the 'Kkanbu Chicken' meeting between Lee Jae-yong, Chung Euisun, and Jensen Huang encompasses various meanings beyond a simple social gathering, including future technology collaboration, expansion of investment in the South Korean market, and changes in corporate culture. It remains to be seen whether this meeting will further strengthen the collaborative relationship between the South Korean business community and Nvidia, and contribute to securing future technological competitiveness. Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has expressed a positive reaction to this meeting of business leaders and pledged that the government will actively support it to contribute to the development of the South Korean economy. US President Donald Trump also assessed that this meeting will have a positive impact on economic cooperation between the two countries and promised continued interest and support.
