A ‘chimaek’ summit: did a chicken dinner set the stage for Nvidia’s big AI push?

Three of the world’s most powerful technology billionaires made a surprise appearance at a popular Seoul fried chicken restaurant on Thursday, sharing beer and soju before creating a stir by paying the bill for every diner in the establishment.

The casual summit between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Chung Eui-sun offered a remarkable moment of public friendship ahead of the high-stakes APEC summit, where the global AI chip race is a central topic of discussion.

A night of ‘chimaek’ and public diplomacy

The trio, with a combined net worth of approximately $195 billion, chose Kkanbu Chicken for their get-together, a well-known spot famous for “chimaek”—the classic South Korean pairing of fried chicken and beer.

The name “Kkanbu” is also Korean slang for a very close friend or ally.

“I love fried chicken and beer with my friends, so Kkanbu is a perfect place, right?” Huang told passersby as he arrived.

According to national news agency Yonhap, the leaders enjoyed cheese balls, boneless chicken, and other fried items alongside Korean beer and soju.

In a gesture of camaraderie, they were seen linking arms to take a shot of beer, a local custom that solidifies friendship.