NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang visited Korea on the 31st to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju and met with President Lee Jae-myung, saying, "There is no doubt that Korea will be a global AI leader and an AI hub in the Asia-Pacific region."
In the afternoon, at the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO), the president met with Huang to discuss plans to innovate the AI ecosystem and areas for cooperation.
Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Yong-beom said in a briefing after the meeting, "The president noted that, based on the core vision of becoming one of the world's top three AI powers and building a basic AI society, Korea is striving to develop technology and expand infrastructure, and that, taking APEC as an opportunity, Korea will contribute more to the international community," adding, "As our country has full-stack AI competitiveness, he asked NVIDIA to expand cooperation with Hyundai Motor and Naver so that Korea becomes a global power in physical AI such as manufacturing, Autonomous Driving, and robotics."
He continued, "Huang said NVIDIA will join Korea on its journey and that he is very pleased to build the future through AI together with Korea," emphasizing, "Along with building AI infrastructure and fostering talent and Start - Up, NVIDIA will engage in practical cooperation with domestic corporations in many areas, including manufacturing, Autonomous Driving, robotics, and physical AI."
Kim, the Deputy Minister, added, "In response, the president said Korea will be reborn as the AI capital of the Asia-Pacific region and proposed that NVIDIA join in building an AI ecosystem in which infrastructure and technology investment form a virtuous cycle."