Tech Titans' Surprise Treat: The Real Deal Behind It

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Chair Chung Eui-sun shared a surprise casual dinner of fried chicken and beer in Seoul.
• With a combined net worth of $195 billion, the trio unexpectedly paid the entire bill for all other diners in the restaurant, creating a viral moment.
• The friendly meeting preceded a major announcement at the APEC summit, where Nvidia pledged over 260,000 GPUs to South Korean tech giants, including Samsung and Hyundai.
• This gathering highlights a deepening collaboration in "physical AI," particularly for developing AI-driven autonomous vehicles.

Billionaires, Beer, and a Golden Bell

In a surprising display of camaraderie, three of the world's most influential tech leaders stunned diners at a popular Seoul fried chicken restaurant on Thursday. Jensen Huang, CEO of AI chip behemoth Nvidia, was joined by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun for a casual meal of "chimaek"—the beloved South Korean pairing of fried chicken and beer.

The trio chose Kkanbu Chicken, a fitting venue as "Kkanbu" is slang for a very close friend. "I love fried chicken and beer with my friends, so Kkanbu is a perfect place, right?” Huang remarked to onlookers. Their presence alone was noteworthy, but what happened next cemented the evening as a viral sensation.

More Than a Meal: A Multi-Billion Dollar Gesture

As the evening progressed, Huang, Lee, and Chung were seen sharing laughs, linking arms for a toast to solidify their friendship, and even stepping outside to offer chicken and cheese sticks to the gathered crowd. In a grand gesture of goodwill, Huang rang the "golden bell," signaling his intention to pay for every customer's meal in the restaurant, a move that drew cheers from the surprised patrons. According to the Yonhap news agency, Samsung’s Lee ultimately settled the bill, while Chung paid for a second round.

This friendly dinner was not just a photo opportunity; it was a precursor to significant business developments. The meeting occurred just ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, where high-stakes discussions around technology and trade, particularly access to cutting-edge AI chips, were on the agenda.

Forging a Physical AI Alliance

The true weight of their casual dinner became clear at the summit. On Friday, Huang met with South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung and announced a landmark deal: Nvidia would provide more than 260,000 of its highly sought-after graphics processing units (GPUs) to South Korean companies. Among the recipients are his dinner companions' firms, Samsung and Hyundai, as well as web giant Naver and chipmaker SK.

Huang stated that Nvidia would work closely with these Korean titans to strengthen the future of "physical AI." According to the presidential office, this collaboration will focus heavily on developing sophisticated AI-driven autonomous vehicles, signaling that the bonds formed over chicken and beer are set to accelerate innovation in one of tech's most competitive frontiers.