Lee Jae-yong: "Samsung and NVIDIA are all in on AI"... Chey Tae-won: "NVIDIA is the brain, SK is the memory"

[Financial News, New York — Correspondent Lee Byung-chul]In New York, Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, highlighted the two companies' AI cooperation by revealing his 25-year relationship with Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA. Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, also underscored the AI alliance with Huang, saying, "NVIDIA designs the brain, while SK makes the memory."
Lee took the stage at The Korea Society's 2026 annual gala in New York on the 28th (local time) to congratulate Huang, who received the 2026 James A. Van Fleet Award.
Lee said, "I am honored to congratulate Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, on receiving the 2026 James A. Van Fleet Award today. It is even more special to me because my father received the same award exactly 20 years ago." The late Lee Kun-hee received the James A. Van Fleet Award in 2006 in recognition of his contributions to U.S.-South Korea economic cooperation and the development of relations between the two countries.

Lee described Huang as a central figure in the AI industry. "Jensen has built NVIDIA into a company at the center of everything happening in AI today," he said. "He has redefined what computing can do and now drives industries around the world." Lee added that Huang was helping create "a true partnership and tangible results" between South Korea and the United States.
Lee also shared details of their personal relationship. He said the two men had three things in common, identifying AI as the first.
He emphasized, "Both of our companies are betting everything on AI." He also cited their shared fondness for Samsung Electronics' foldable smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.
Their relationship dates back about 25 years. "I first met Jensen at CES about 25 years ago," Lee recalled. "Even then, he dreamed big, had the courage to bet boldly on that dream, and devoted everything to what he believed in."
Lee also shared an anecdote about Huang recently telling him, "I want to die working." Addressing Huang, Lee said, "Jensen, I'm sorry, but you will live forever," drawing laughter from the audience. He continued, "As someone who respects you, as a partner in this rapidly changing industry, and above all, as a longtime friend, congratulations."



Taking the stage next, Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, compared the relationship between NVIDIA and SK to that between the brain and memory.
Chey said, "Whenever I meet Jensen, his first question is always, 'Can you make it faster?'" He likened it to Korea's 'hurry-hurry' culture.
"The partnership between NVIDIA and SK is simple," he said. "NVIDIA designs the brain, and SK makes the memory." He explained, "When NVIDIA thinks at the speed of light, SK makes sure it never forgets."
Chey also compared the front line of the AI era with the battlefields where General James Van Fleet once stood. He said the front line, once the battlefield, has now shifted to data centers, adding that Huang, who leads it, "wears a black leather jacket instead of a military uniform."
In a toast, Chey said, "Please raise a glass to Jensen Huang, his family, and the U.S.-ROK alliance. I hope our partnership expands faster than demand for GPUs."

[email protected] Lee Byung-chul, correspondent Reporter