Nvidia’s Jensen Huang dines with Samsung and Hyundai chiefs, buys dinner for an entire Seoul restaurant

Jensen Huang

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shared a casual dinner with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun at a fried-chicken restaurant in Seoul on Thursday evening. What started as a quiet meal quickly turned into an unexpected public event, as the three business leaders ended up paying for everyone dining at the restaurant.

A quiet table in Gangnam

The dinner took place at Kkanbu Chicken in Samseong-dong, Gangnam — a modest yet popular fried-chicken chain near Samseong Station. Huang, who was visiting South Korea for the first time in 15 years, joined Lee and Chung ahead of the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju. The trio sat near a window, dressed casually — Huang in a black T-shirt, Lee in white long sleeves, and Chung in short sleeves — while sharing platters of crispy chicken, cheese sticks, and beer.

As the evening went on, diners began recognizing the trio. When someone in the crowd shouted for them to buy a round, Lee smiled and said, “I’ll pay for everything today.” Huang laughed and added, “These guys have lots of money,” before striking the restaurant’s golden bell — a local custom that signals a free meal for all.

From dinner to delight

According to Korean media reports, Lee covered the main bill while Chung paid for the next round. Huang later stepped outside to hand out fried chicken and banana milk to fans and reporters waiting outside. The total cost of the dinner reportedly reached about 2.5 million won (roughly $1,800).

The evening preceded Huang’s meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the APEC Summit, where Nvidia announced plans to supply over 260,000 GPUs to Korean companies, including Samsung and Hyundai. For one night, however, three of Asia’s most powerful executives were just friends sharing chicken, beer, and laughter in Gangnam.