[fn Editorial] The AI Alliance Forged by Jensen Huang: Korea Must Respond by Becoming a Global Top 3 Power

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, has formed an 'AI Alliance' with Korea's leading companies. On the 31st of last month, during a special address at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, Huang announced the 'AI Initiative,' which involves supplying a total of 260,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) worth 14 trillion won to the Korean government, Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver. By allocating GPUs—a resource in global short supply—to Korea as a priority, the aim is to accelerate the nation's digital transformation.
GPUs are a strategic asset that determines the success or failure of the AI industry. Just as the internet revolution would have been impossible without ultra-high-speed networks, the AI revolution cannot be realized without GPUs. Nvidia expects that this supply will increase Korea's AI GPU holdings from the current 65,000 to over 300,000. As a result, Korea will instantly become the world's third-largest holder of AI chips, following the United States and China.
Jensen Huang's recent actions prior to this announcement symbolically demonstrate the significance of the AI Alliance. On the 28th of last month, he hinted, 'There will soon be an announcement that will make the Korean people happy.' Immediately after arriving in Korea, he had a 'chimaek' meeting with Lee Jae-yong and Chung Eui-sun, stating, 'Today is the best day of my life.' These moments highlight the gravity of global cooperation on core AI infrastructure.
Nvidia is evolving beyond a simple chip supplier to become an AI infrastructure company. With this AI Alliance, Korea will play a pivotal role in building AI infrastructure. Huang also remarked, 'Few countries in the world possess all the core capabilities in software, manufacturing, and AI,' and assessed that Korea meets these conditions. This means Korea has the foundation to massively expand its AI industry.
Korean companies are also responding swiftly. Samsung Electronics is leveraging Nvidia's platform to improve the speed and yield of its semiconductor manufacturing processes. SK Group has begun designing an AI factory to advance semiconductor production and cloud infrastructure. Leading Korean firms are building new-concept digital manufacturing plants to mass-produce and upgrade AI models and services.
Although the industry is moving quickly, there are doubts about whether Korea's national AI capabilities can fully support its companies. According to the 2024 Global AI Index by British data analytics firm Tortoise Media, Korea scored 40.3 points, ranking sixth after the United States (100 points) and China (53 points). A regulatory environment that fails to keep pace with technological changes and a decline in private investment have been cited as major reasons.
Thanks to the AI Alliance forged by Jensen Huang, Korea now has a springboard to leap into the ranks of the global AI top three. However, if companies are unable to operate freely, it will be difficult to seize this opportunity. The government must innovate regulations, particularly in the labor sector, and provide tax support to create a 'level playing field' where businesses can focus on technological innovation. In this era of rapid AI competition, the government must fulfill its role to ensure Korea does not fall behind.