(LEAD)(News Focus) Jensen Huang's S. Korea visit signals Nvidia's broader bet on AI ecosystem

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest details in first 8 paras; CHANGES photos)By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang is set to hold a series of meetings with South Korea's top executives across a range of industries in a highly anticipated visit, underscoring the U.S. chip giant's efforts to deepen partnerships across the broader artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem beyond semiconductors and advance its vision for physical AI.

Huang, the head of the world's most valuable company and a central figure in the global AI boom, arrived in Seoul on his flight from Taiwan and received the kind of attention typically reserved for celebrities.

"Korea has many sectors to invest in. Robotics is going to be the next major sector," Huang told reporters at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul.

Asked whether he had brought any gifts for South Korea, Huang responded with a smile: "I brought a lot of business for Korea. I have some surprises."

Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang greets fans upon arriving at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul on June 5, 2026. (Yonhap)

His visit to South Korea, the first in seven months, is drawing keen interest from investors and industry leaders amid expectations of expanded AI collaboration beyond semiconductors into robotics, smart factories and AI platforms.

One of the most anticipated events is a casual dinner later Friday with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin. The major tech companies cover nearly every layer of the AI value chain, from semiconductors and data centers to AI models, software and robotics.

While Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung had been expected to join Friday's gathering, he is now expected to meet Huang separately at the group's headquarters on Monday, according to industry sources.

Ahead of the dinner, Huang is scheduled to meet with South Korean e-sports star Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, and members of the T1 League of Legends (LoL) team at a PC gaming cafe in Seoul.

On Sunday, Huang is scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch to Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won, who will serve as the ceremonial batter, at a Doosan Bears home game in Seoul. The appearance is also expected to provide an opportunity for discussions on potential AI collaboration, as Doosan Robotics is building industrial robot platforms using Nvidia's AI and robotics infrastructure.

During his four-day stay, Huang is also set to hold talks with executives fro