Seoul, South Korea — In an unexpected treat for diners, three of the world’s wealthiest tech leaders turned a popular Seoul fried chicken restaurant into a scene of high-profile camaraderie on Thursday.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, along with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun, stopped by Kkanbu Chicken, a famed “chimaek” spot — a pairing of fried chicken and beer beloved across South Korea.
Huang, whose AI chip company has reached a staggering $5 trillion market valuation, told onlookers during a casual live stream, “I love fried chicken and beer with my friends, so Kkanbu is a perfect place, right?” The name “Kkanbu” is Korean slang for a very close friend, making it a fitting venue for the meet-up.
The trio enjoyed a spread of cheese balls, cheese sticks, boneless chicken, and whole fried chicken alongside local draft beer Terra and soju, South Korea’s traditional rice spirit. Videos captured the three billionaires linking arms for a celebratory shot — a local gesture symbolizing friendship — and sharing food with the crowd.
Huang rang the “golden bell,” a Korean custom signaling the bill is covered for everyone in the restaurant. According to national news agency Yonhap, Lee paid the first round while Chung picked up the second.
This friendly outing comes amid the APEC summit in Gyeongju, where top leaders from the region, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, gathered to discuss trade and technology. Access to advanced AI chips — which have helped propel Nvidia’s success — is a key topic on the agenda between the U.S. and China.
Huang also met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, announcing that Nvidia would supply more than 260,000 graphics processing units to South Korean firms, including Samsung, Hyundai, Naver, and SK Hynix. The collaboration aims to bolster AI-driven innovations, including autonomous vehicles, underscoring the growing role of AI in global industry.
The lighthearted fried chicken visit, however, offered a rare glimpse of humanity behind the tech giants, reminding the public that even billionaires enjoy the simple pleasures of beer, chicken, and camaraderie.