"More HBM!" Jensen Huang Calls for It, Reaffirming AI Alliance With SK's Chey Tae-won

[Financial News] Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, and Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, met in Seoul on the 7th for the sixth time this year, following previous meetings in the United States and Taiwan. Among leaders of Korean companies, this is the most frequent series of meetings. This month alone, they met four times from the 1st through today, moving between Taipei and Seoul. The close partnership between SK and NVIDIA is clearly on display.
At the gathering, held at Kkanbu Chicken in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Chey met Huang together with Noh-Jung Kwak, president of SK hynix, and Jung Jae-heon, president of SK Telecom. The venue was the same place where Huang held a so-called "Kkanbu meeting" with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun in October last year.
Huang showed a friendly side by signing autographs for reporters and customers at the scene and posing for selfies. Later, when Chey and Huang appeared together, they exchanged high-fives and greeted each other warmly. During the meal, Huang came out holding fried chicken and handed it out to reporters, while Chey distributed "HBM Chips," a snack made through a collaboration between SK hynix and 7-Eleven, to members of the public. Seeing this, Huang also shouted, "Want more HBM!"
Industry watchers believe the main topics at the meeting were expanding HBM supply and cooperation on AI infrastructure. In particular, they expect discussions on increasing supply of SK hynix's next-generation HBM4 and on collaboration around AI data centers. To counter rivals such as Samsung Electronics and Micron expanding their HBM supply, Chey held two meetings with Huang on the 1st and 2nd during COMPUTEX Taipei, underscoring their strong partnership. At the event, Huang visited the SK hynix booth and signed an HBM4E wafer, writing, "Please make more."
Speaking to reporters during the meeting, Huang said, "We achieved very big results with SK hynix this year, and there will be even greater growth in the second half of this year and next year." He added, "We are cooperating in a wide range of areas, including AI supercomputers, CPUs, AI PCs, and robotics." Huang also mentioned several times the possibility of a memory supply shortage as AI demand expands. During the meeting, Chey and Huang even shared a so-called "love shot" toast. Chey placed a hand on Huang's shoulder to show their closeness, and Huang responded with a broad smile. Right after the toast, Chey said, "Now we have really become kkambu," drawing laughter from those around them.
He also hinted at the possibility of expanding cooperation with SK Telecom. Huang said, "Current telecom networks are limited to delivering data, but in the future they must evolve into networks for AI." He added, "We want to build telecom networks together that fit the AI era."
Meanwhile, Huang also announced a meeting with Jun Young-hyun, head of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) Division, on the 8th. Asked about the possibility of another meeting with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, he said, "We recently met in California and had dinner together," and added, "I am looking forward to meeting Vice Chairman Jun."
moving@fnnews.com Reporter Lee Dong-hyeok, Choi Hye-rim, and Lim Su-bin Reporter