Nvidia, the U.S. semiconductor leader, announced it will deliver more than 260,000 of its latest Blackwell AI chips to South Korea’s government and major conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver. The move solidifies South Korea’s position as an emerging artificial intelligence powerhouse in Asia.
The agreement follows a meeting between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, and leading business figures on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju. While the deal’s value and delivery schedule were not disclosed, Huang highlighted that just as Korea has led in producing ships, cars, and semiconductors, it can now “export intelligence” to the world through AI.
South Korea’s government plans to use over 50,000 of the chips to enhance its AI infrastructure, while Samsung, SK Group, and Hyundai will each deploy up to 50,000 chips in smart factories and autonomous systems. Internet giant Naver will purchase 60,000 chips to boost its computing power for projects like the National AI Computing Center.
Amid ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions that have restricted Nvidia’s access to the Chinese AI chip market, the company is expanding its footprint in alternative markets such as South Korea. The partnership reinforces Nvidia’s role in driving global AI advancement, particularly in industries such as manufacturing, robotics, and autonomous driving.