Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang appeared on a Korean variety show for the first time, revealing a special affection for Korean corporations and Korean society. He cited "resilience" and a "goal-centered organizational culture" as the drivers behind Nvidia's rise that ushered in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) after overcoming a near-bankruptcy crisis.
On the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block," which aired on the 10th, Huang appeared in a black leather jacket and discussed Nvidia's founding backstory and management philosophy, his ties with Korean business leaders, and his views on the AI era. This was the first time Huang had appeared on a domestic or international variety talk show.
On the show, when asked which of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won he is closest to, he said, "That's too easy," and answered, "I want everyone to succeed." He added, "All three are remarkably outstanding global leaders," and said, "The three companies are very fortunate to have them as their leaders."
He also emphasized trust in Korean partner corporations. Huang said, "When I am in Korea, I want my partners to succeed," adding, "I want SK to succeed, and I want Samsung, LG, Hyundai Motor, and Naver to succeed." He continued, "They also know that I genuinely want them to succeed," and added, "I do everything I can to help them succeed."
Huang said the ties between Korea and Nvidia go back 25 years. He said that in 1996 he received a letter from the late Samsung patriarch Lee Kun-hee and visited Korea, and he recalled walking around Seoul's Yongsan Electronics Market handing out business cards and making sales calls.
He said, "Korea's tech industry began alongside the internet, and Nvidia grew during the same period," adding, "Our lives and histories are very close." He also said, "Korea has always been close to my heart," and, "Without Korea's excellent gamers, it would have been difficult for Nvidia's technology to become a global phenomenon."
He also mentioned Korea's PC bang and esports culture. Huang said, "Esports was exported from Korea, and gamers around the world came to love it," adding, "That journey began nearly 25 years ago with PC bangs and esports." He said the PC bang boom of the late 1990s and Korean gamers became a crucial foundation for Nvidia's growth.
The broadcast also introduced Huang's upbringing. He recalled emigrating to the United States at age 9 and doing dishwashing and cleaning restrooms at a restaurant, saying, "Whatever I did, I gave 100%." He added, "It doesn't matter what the work is," and, "When the job is done, it represents me."
He also talked about Nvidia's early crisis after founding. Huang recalled that he founded Nvidia with two colleagues at a restaurant in the United States in 1993, but their early semiconductor business for game graphics struggled, and at one point they had only 30 days left before bankruptcy.
Looking back on that time, he said, "I felt a great responsibility for the lives of our employees, but because I had nothing to lose, I was able to draw out hidden abilities." He emphasized, "When you're down on the floor, see it as the time to build yourself and draw out the greatness within."
Huang also explained the CUDA platform, cited as Nvidia's core competitive edge. Introduced in 2006, CUDA initially drew harsh reviews from the market, but by giving developers and students enough time to adapt to the ecosystem, it delivered long-term results.
He said, "Twenty years is too long to cling to a business no one believes in, but if you believe in the conclusion, you must stick with it to the end," adding, "After 25 years of waiting, we ultimately achieved explosive growth."
On Nvidia's organizational culture, he introduced the principle that "the goal is the boss." It means operating around the company's goals, not rank, tenure, or personal relationships. Huang said, "I devised it to prevent office politics from taking over when a company gets too big," and explained, "It's my own integration method to help everyone look in the same direction and move forward."
For talent, he emphasized humanity over intelligence. He said, "Intelligence has now become a common commodity everywhere," and, "If you're looking for people to work with, you should choose those who want others to succeed and know how to give."
As a virtue needed for success, he pointed to the ability to endure failure. Huang said, "To become great, you must go through pain and failure," adding, "Experiences of failing and coming back, failing again and coming back again build resilience and character."
Regarding the AI era, he predicted that technology barriers will come down. He said, "AI is easy and computers are hard," adding, "In the past, only people who learned programming could use computers, but today computers are so smart that you just have to say what you want." He continued, "AI will narrow the technology gap," and, "Anyone can become a programmer."
At the end of the broadcast, Huang also expressed thanks to Korean society and partner corporations. He said, "I am grateful to Korea for welcoming me and our company warmly," adding, "The love you have shown our company and us has been very moving."
He added, "There is no greater joy than seeing everything—Korean society and Korean partners, K-pop and K-culture, K-beauty—being embraced so wonderfully around the world," and, "Korea has achieved accomplishments over the past 10 years that are hard to believe, and I am very glad to see it."