Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said South Korea is well positioned to benefit from the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, citing the country’s combination of semiconductor manufacturing, technology, industrial capacity, software development and energy infrastructure.
Key Highlights
- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has described South Korea as uniquely positioned to benefit from AI.
- Huang said the country combines advanced manufacturing with strong software and semiconductor capabilities.
- Nvidia is expanding partnerships with South Korean technology and industrial companies.
- Collaborations include AI infrastructure, high-bandwidth memory, robotics and physical AI.
- Huang said AI and automation could help South Korea overcome the limitations of its relatively small population.
During visits and public remarks in 2025 and 2026, Huang highlighted South Korea’s industrial and technological strengths as the country seeks to expand its role in the global AI economy.
Huang has argued that South Korea differs from countries that specialise mainly in either manufacturing or software because it has developed significant capabilities across manufacturing, semiconductors, electronics, software, energy infrastructure and AI research.
“Countries with strong manufacturing and heavy industries often lack software capabilities, and those with strong software often lack manufacturing. However, South Korea excels in all these areas,” Huang has said.
He has also pointed to South Korea’s strengths in science, technology, mathematics, AI and computer science, alongside its industrial and energy infrastructure.
During a June 2026 visit to Seoul, Huang described the period as “Korea’s moment” and highlighted what he sees as the country’s cultural, industrial and geopolitical advantages in the AI era.
He has also identified South Korea’s technology adoption as an important factor, saying the country’s society is receptive to new technologies and capable of applying them across different sectors.
According to Huang, AI and automation could allow South Korea to expand its economic and industrial influence despite its relatively small population.
“By leveraging AI and automation, South Korea can punch far above its weight,” he said while receiving the 2026 James A. Van Fleet Award from The Korea Society in New York.
Nvidia Expands Korean Partnerships
Nvidia’s partnerships with South Korean companies cover several parts of the AI technology supply chain.
SK hynix and Samsung Electronics are major suppliers of high-bandwidth memory used in advanced AI computing systems, while Nvidia is also working with companies including SK Telecom, Naver and Hyundai Motor Group on AI infrastructure and applications.
The partnerships include plans involving large-scale GPU deployments, cloud infrastructure, sovereign AI systems, robotics and physical AI applications in manufacturing and mobility.
Huang has described South Korea as more than a supplier of critical components, pointing to its potential role in developing complete AI ecosystems.
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He has also highlighted work involving next-generation computing systems, robotics processors and AI research and development in South Korea.
The Nvidia CEO has said the country’s partnerships with the company extend across energy, semiconductors, infrastructure, robotics and AI applications.
The comments come as South Korea pursues strategies aimed at increasing AI computing capacity, developing domestic AI models and expanding the use of artificial intelligence across industries. More details on Nvidia’s global partnerships are available on the official Nvidia website.
Huang’s assessment reflects South Korea’s established strengths in semiconductor production, manufacturing and technology adoption.
As global competition in artificial intelligence intensifies, South Korea is seeking to build capabilities across several stages of the AI value chain. Nvidia’s growing partnerships with Korean companies have placed the country at the centre of efforts to expand AI infrastructure and industrial applications. For the latest updates, follow us on X.
