1. A Historic Reunion After 15 Years, An AI Alliance Born Over Chicken and Beer
Why did global IT leaders gather at an informal meeting in a chicken restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul? It wasn’t just a casual chicken-and-beer date; it was strategic diplomacy set to reshape the AI era.
The Meeting of Global Tech Titans in Seoul
On October 30, 2025, a historic moment etched itself into Korea’s industrial economy. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sat together at one table. This was no ordinary gathering. Since it was a meeting directly requested by Nvidia’s top executive visiting Korea for the first time in 15 years, industry insiders immediately hailed it as a ‘historic moment.’
Lasting about an hour and ten minutes, this gathering captured the attention of financial markets worldwide. Why did a meeting at a humble chicken restaurant in Seoul quickly explode into global headlines? The answer lies in Chairman Lee’s heartfelt words following the meeting.
Lee Jae-yong’s Sincere Remark
“Isn’t it a good day? With tariffs settled and just living life, happiness isn’t much. It’s eating delicious food and sharing a drink with good people—that’s happiness.”
This simple phrase transcends a mere quote. Lee Jae-yong’s expressed sentiment crystallizes his management philosophy and leadership style. A chairman of a global corporation publicly emphasizing the value of ‘human relationships’ and ‘everyday happiness’ signals a new direction for Korean economic leadership in the AI era.
Why a Chicken Restaurant? Why Seoul?
That this meeting took place not in a luxury restaurant or official conference room, but at a chicken place is no coincidence. As a second such case after the 2023 Silicon Valley sushi meeting, this spot reflects the consistency of Lee Jae-yong’s leadership approach—valuing ‘ordinariness’ even in high-stakes negotiations with global executives.
Considering that Jensen Huang is known for experiencing local food culture on overseas trips, Lee’s choice reveals a thoughtful strategy that respects the counterpart’s personality. Creative ideas and swift decisions—impossible to emerge at formal negotiation tables—are born from the casual ambiance of such informal meetings.
A Signal from Korean Companies Toward the AI Era
The reason why this meeting is lauded as ‘strategic diplomacy’ rather than just a social gathering becomes clear in the market’s immediate reaction. Samsung Electronics rose by 3.58%, Hyundai Motor by 2.71%, winning investor confidence on all fronts.
These figures are more than mere stock price hikes. They quantify the trust and expectations global investors place on Korean companies’ AI market strategies. This informal gathering led by Lee Jae-yong has become a turning point redefining Korea’s standing in the global AI arena.
Competition in the AI era is not won by technology alone. It requires trust among global leaders, creative collaboration, and genuine efforts to understand one another. Lee Jae-yong’s ‘chicken and beer meeting’ embodied all of these elements—showcasing a new style of diplomacy for the AI age.
Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s Unofficial Leadership Strategy: Finding Clues to Innovation in Everyday Moments
Beyond traditional summits, ideas are born in a chicken restaurant? Why does Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong choose to communicate with global leaders through informal meetings?
Stepping Away from the Official Table into Everyday Life
Lee Jae-yong’s negotiation method breaks industry conventions. Choosing an ordinary chicken restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, instead of a fancy conference room or government building, is more than just a change of venue. It represents a concrete example of practicing a new philosophy of global leadership.
Following a meeting at a Japanese restaurant in Silicon Valley in 2023, Lee’s persistence in informal gatherings, including this recent chicken joint meetup, is no coincidence. He believes that creativity and trust—hard to achieve at formal negotiation tables—can flourish through conversations in casual, everyday spaces.
Everyday Spaces as Strategy: Lee’s Communication Style
In an era of ultra-fast change in AI and the semiconductor industry, rigid negotiation frameworks are no longer efficient. Lee Jae-yong’s emphasis on ‘everyday leadership’ precisely meets this demand.
The advantages of meeting in informal settings are multifaceted. First, a relaxed atmosphere encourages participants to express their genuine thoughts more freely. Conversations shared over chicken and beer foster pure idea exchanges that transcend organizational interests. This is the very moment innovation ignites.
Building Trust through Cultural Understanding
Particularly noteworthy is how Lee respected Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s CEO’s preferences. Knowing that Jensen enjoys experiencing local food culture during overseas trips, Lee introduced Korea’s ‘chimaek’ (chicken and beer) culture—a thoughtful gesture showing genuine effort to understand his counterpart.
This consideration goes beyond mere kindness; it reveals the core of leadership. Understanding and respecting the other party’s culture and preferences is the first step in global collaboration. Lee’s approach elevates him from a ‘technology leader’ to a ‘human-centered leader.’
Strategic Decisions Born from Informal Meetings
The tangible outcomes following these gatherings prove the effectiveness of this strategy. NVIDIA’s multi-trillion-won AI chip supply plan, global validation of Samsung Electronics’ foundry technology, and Hyundai Motor’s accelerated autonomous driving development—all stemmed from about 70 minutes of informal discussion.
What would normally take months in formal negotiation processes was achieved in mere hours through trust-based dialogue in a casual environment. This clearly demonstrates that Lee’s ‘everyday leadership’ is not just about affability—it's a concrete business strategy.
A New Interpretation of On-site Management
Lee’s act of personally handing out chicken to citizens after the meeting sends an additional message. While inheriting founder Lee Byung-chul’s philosophy of ‘on-site management,’ Lee has evolved it for the digital age.
Sharing the results of talks with global CEOs and celebrating together reveals Lee’s view of leadership’s essence: a leader’s role is not only to pursue organizational gains but also to share the process and achievements.
A Model for Future Leadership
Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s unofficial leadership strategy offers valuable insights for the future of corporate management. In a world where technology evolves rapidly and international cooperation is imperative, what’s needed is not rigid corporate culture but trust and openness.
The flexibility to navigate official and unofficial channels, respect for diverse cultures, and wisdom to make strategic decisions in everyday settings—all are embodied in Lee’s ‘chimaek diplomacy.’ This is the capability that leaders must possess to lead in the AI era and what will enable Korean companies to maintain competitiveness on the global stage.
Samsung, Nvidia, and Hyundai Motor: The Future Synergy Created by an AI Alliance
What groundbreaking cooperation lies behind the multi-trillion won AI chip supply contracts? We delve into the true nature of this alliance set to transform the Korean economy—from autonomous driving to semiconductor technology.
The reason why Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s famous ‘chimaek’ (fried chicken and beer) meeting was far more than just a casual business encounter is precisely because of the innovative collaboration these three companies are about to unveil. According to international media including Bloomberg, Nvidia plans to supply AI chips worth trillions of won to Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group, and SK Group. This is not merely a supply agreement but the start of a strategic alliance that combines each company’s core strengths to generate new value.
The Fusion of AI Semiconductors and Foundry Technology: Samsung’s Leap onto the Global Stage
Led by Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Electronics is expected to significantly enhance the competitiveness of its foundry business through this partnership. By handling production of Nvidia’s AI chips, Samsung’s cutting-edge semiconductor technology will gain global validation.
The semiconductor foundry market is fiercely competitive. If Samsung proves its world-class AI chip manufacturing capabilities through working with Nvidia, this will go beyond a simple technical milestone to securing the trust of global clients. As a result, expanding its foundry market share will naturally follow.
Successfully producing advanced products like AI chips sends a powerful signal reaffirming Samsung’s technological leadership in international markets.
Revolutionizing Autonomous Driving Technology: Hyundai Motor Group’s Future Automotive Strategy
Hyundai Motor Group will focus on developing next-generation autonomous driving technologies powered by Nvidia’s AI platform. As the automotive industry evolves from electrification to autonomy, Nvidia’s powerful AI computing capabilities combined with Hyundai’s manufacturing expertise opens up limitless possibilities.
Nvidia’s AI platform optimizes all essential components of autonomous driving—real-time environment recognition, route planning, and decision-making. By integrating this with Hyundai’s automotive craftsmanship, the pace of safe, reliable self-driving vehicle development will accelerate dramatically.
This marks Hyundai’s transformation from a conventional automaker into an AI-based mobility solutions provider.
Qualitative Growth of Korea’s AI Ecosystem: Securing Global Leadership
The most significant implication of this partnership is Korea solidifying its position in the global AI ecosystem. Collaborative direct engagement with global technology leaders like Nvidia offers Korean companies and research institutions a leap forward in AI R&D capabilities.
They gain hands-on experience with world-class AI technologies and the opportunity to apply them in their own businesses. This goes beyond technology acquisition to trigger an AI-driven revolution across the entire Korean industry.
Proven Investor Confidence: The Significance of Positive Stock Reactions
Immediately after the meeting, Samsung’s stock rose by 3.58% and Hyundai’s by 2.71%, reflecting investors’ enthusiastic endorsement. This was no mere short-term spike.
It signals global investors’ trust in the Korean firms’ AI market entry strategies. This clearly demonstrates that the partnership led by Chairman Lee is recognized in the market as a strategically meaningful move.
Creating Synergy Through Complementary Strengths
The uniqueness of the Samsung-Nvidia-Hyundai alliance lies in how perfectly their respective capabilities complement each other. Nvidia’s AI algorithm expertise, Samsung’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing prowess, and Hyundai’s automotive industry know-how combine to birth innovative products and services previously deemed impossible.
This goes far beyond a simple technology supply relationship—it sets a vivid example of what a true strategic alliance should look like. As the global economy rapidly dives into the AI era, this collaborative model is poised to bolster Korea’s economic competitiveness.
The Economic Ripple Effects of Chimaek Diplomacy: From K-Food to AI Infrastructure
More than just a simple meeting, the spread of K-chicken in the global market and success in tariff negotiations! Let’s explore how Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s chimaek (chicken and beer) gathering sparked positive waves across the entire Korean economy.
K-Chicken Meets Global Leadership
The moment Chairman Lee Jae-yong invited Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, and Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, to a chicken restaurant in Gangnam, South Korea’s food culture transcended the boundaries of a mere local delicacy. This scene was broadcast live across the global IT industry, opening the door for K-chicken to take center stage in global business culture.
Especially meaningful was witnessing global tech leaders directly experiencing Korea’s ‘chimaek culture.’ It went beyond just sharing a meal — it elevated the international stature of Korean culinary culture. This stands as a shining example proving the new value of ‘K-Food’ following K-Pop and K-Beauty, and is expected to positively impact the global expansion of Korea’s foodservice industry in the future.
Tariff Negotiations Resolved, Giving Businesses Breathing Room
When Chairman Lee mentioned afterward that “the tariffs have also been settled,” it carried significant weight for the economic sector. The trade deal between Korea and the U.S. sends a powerful positive signal for Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, in their overseas exports.
Tariff reductions in key sectors like semiconductors and automobiles promise the following economic benefits:
- Reduced Manufacturing Costs: Lower tariffs on imported components decrease domestic production expenses
- Improved U.S. Market Competitiveness: Enhanced ability to enter the U.S. market at more competitive price points
- Stabilized Global Supply Chains: Secure Korea-U.S. trade relations boost international business confidence
This is more than a one-time agreement — it’s a crucial step solidifying the foundation for Korea’s medium-term economic growth.
AI Infrastructure Investment Kicks into High Gear
The confirmed multi-trillion won supply of Nvidia’s AI chips following Chairman Lee’s meeting is expected to accelerate investments in Korea’s AI infrastructure dramatically.
Nvidia’s expanded provision of high-performance AI chips will trigger a chain reaction with these economic effects:
Phase 1: Accelerated Data Center Construction
- Increased foundry orders for semiconductor giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix
- Surge in domestic data center construction and expansion projects
Phase 2: Revitalized Related Industry Ecosystem
- Revenue growth for companies producing chip manufacturing equipment and materials
- Expansion of infrastructure sectors like power supply and cooling systems
Phase 3: Job Creation and Enhanced Technical Capabilities
- Booming demand for specialized professionals in semiconductors and AI fields
- Qualitative improvements in domestic AI research and development capabilities
Market Confidence Reflected in Stock Prices
Samsung Electronics’ stock surged 3.58% and Hyundai Motor rose 2.71% immediately following the meeting, sharply demonstrating the market’s highly positive evaluation of this collaboration. This reflects investor confidence not just in short-term gains but in the long-term growth strategies of Korean companies.
Notably, this stock rally signals that not only domestic institutional investors but also global investors are recognizing and valuing Korean companies’ foray into the AI market.
Lee Jae-yong’s Economic Diplomacy Opens a New Era
The economic impact of this chimaek meeting goes far beyond mere numbers. Chairman Lee’s so-called ‘everyday diplomacy’ introduced a fresh model of collaboration for global economic leaders.
Moving away from past business cultures that focused solely on profit pursuit, this approach emphasizes mutual cooperation founded on human trust. The result is the creation of stronger, more resilient business partnerships. What began as a casual meeting over K-chicken is poised to become the catalyst for a new chapter in Korea’s economy in the AI era.
The Evolution of Leadership and New Horizons of Collaboration in the AI Era
What message does Chairman Lee Jae-yong's philosophy, "Happiness is sharing good people and delicious food," send to Korea's economy in the AI era? This article envisions the future of leadership that embraces both technology and humanity.
A Paradigm Shift in Leadership in the AI Era
Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s “chimaek meeting” breaks away from traditional business customs and exemplifies how leadership must evolve in the digital age. Moving beyond hierarchical and formal meetings, his approach seeks genuine communication in everyday settings—a change that goes beyond style. It reflects an evolution in leadership emphasizing human networking and trust-building as much as rapid technological innovation in today’s fast-developing AI landscape.
Creating Value Through Harmony Between Technology and Humanity
Lee Jae-yong’s remark, “Happiness isn’t much. It’s having a good meal and a drink with good people,” carries profound philosophical significance. It suggests a leadership model evolved from the imperative “Think differently” during Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s era toward one centered on sharing and consideration.
As AI and semiconductor technologies advance, pure technical ability alone is insufficient. For the Samsung-Nvidia-Hyundai alliance to produce tangible results, trust and understanding among their top leaders must be foundational. Lee Jae-yong’s preference for informal meetings is a strategic choice enhancing the efficiency of trust-building and simultaneously reveals a philosophy that champions a human-centered corporate culture externally.
A New Horizon for Global Collaboration Models
The collaborative structure revealed through this meeting differs from traditional vertical supply chains. This triangular alliance—combining Nvidia’s AI chip technology, Samsung Electronics’ cutting-edge foundry capabilities, and Hyundai’s automotive expertise—demonstrates a horizontal cooperation where each company maintains its strength while complementing the others.
Behind this collaboration is Lee Jae-yong’s open and flexible leadership. Rather than adopting an authoritative, distant demeanor in building relationships with global leaders, he first conveys trust and consideration, opening their hearts and laying the groundwork for genuine cooperation.
Essential Leadership Competencies in the AI Era
Lee Jae-yong’s “chimaek meeting” clearly signals the shifting competencies required for leadership in the AI era:
Managing Relationships Beyond Technical Understanding: In the rapidly evolving AI landscape, leaders must not only keep pace with technical trends but also cultivate and sustain deep relationships with global collaborators.
Empathy and Communication Skills: To unite global companies with diverse cultures and management philosophies into a single alliance, leadership grounded in understanding and respect is essential.
Field-Oriented Decision-Making: Lee’s preference for informal encounters and daily communication facilitates direct face-to-face interaction among decision-makers, enabling quicker and more flexible decisions.
Leadership Driving Korea’s Digital Transformation
Chairman Lee Jae-yong’s leadership transcends individual management style to offer a model for how Korea’s entire economy can achieve digital transformation. At a time when AI technologies impact industries broadly, the importance of inter-company cooperation and ecosystem building has never been greater.
The formation of the Samsung-Nvidia-Hyundai alliance signals Korea’s rising stature as an active, collaborative player—not a passive follower—in the global AI market. It exemplifies how Lee’s global networking capabilities and trust-based cooperation strategies have translated into concrete economic outcomes.
Laying the Foundation for Sustainable Collaboration
Lee Jae-yong’s words, “Having a good meal and a drink with good people—that is happiness,” imply that global collaboration in the AI era must transcend transactional business deals and build long-term partnerships grounded in mutual trust. When this philosophy manifests in practical management, Korean companies are poised to lead in the global AI competition.
Ultimately, the message behind Lee Jae-yong’s “chimaek diplomacy” is clear. Success in the AI era requires more than technological prowess; true leadership harmonizes technology and humanity to foster a culture of trust and cooperation. We look forward to this leadership philosophy spreading as a new paradigm guiding the future of Korea’s economy.
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