Chey Tae-won: "Jensen Huang Stands on the Front Line of the ROK-U.S. Alliance... That Stage Is the Data Center"

[Financial News] Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, described Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, as "a person standing on the front line of the ROK-U.S. Alliance," emphasizing his commitment to expanding cooperation between SK and NVIDIA. He also highlighted that the alliance's front line, once a battlefield, has now shifted to data centers, key facilities in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.
At The Korea Society's 2026 Annual Gala, held in New York on the 28th local time, Chey Tae-won offered a congratulatory toast to Jensen Huang, this year's recipient of the James A. Van Fleet Award. He said, "More than 70 years ago, General James Alward Van Fleet built the ROK-U.S. Alliance on the battlefield," adding, "Today, 70 years later, Jensen Huang stands on that front line."
Chey Tae-won's toast was seen as highlighting both the cooperative relationship between the two leaders, who are key partners in the AI semiconductor sector, and the expansion of the ROK-U.S. Alliance beyond security and trade into AI and advanced technology.
Chey Tae-won added, "The front line has now shifted from the battlefield to the data center," and "The person leading this advance wears a black leather jacket instead of a military uniform." By referring to Huang's signature leather jacket, he likened cooperation in the AI industry to the ROK-U.S. Alliance.
Chey Tae-won presented the roles of NVIDIA and SK as the "brain" and "memory."
Chey Tae-won said, "NVIDIA designs the brain, and SK creates the memory," adding, "When NVIDIA thinks at lightning speed, SK ensures that the memory is never forgotten." He emphasized that NVIDIA's graphics processing unit (GPU) and SK's memory are key components powering AI data centers.
Chey Tae-won also shared an anecdote about Huang, saying, "Whenever I met Jensen, his first question was always, 'Can't we make it faster?'" He linked the remark to Korea's "hurry-hurry" spirit.
Referring to Huang's remark, "The more you buy, the more you save," as "Jensen's law," Chey Tae-won also joked, "Our accounting team is still trying to understand what that means."
Chey Tae-won said, "Jensen inspires all of us to think bigger. I am truly pleased to be your partner," adding, "To Jensen Huang and his family, and to the ROK-U.S. Alliance. May our partnership expand much faster than GPU demand."


[email protected] Kim Hak-jae Reporter