Chey Tae-won Toasts Jensen Huang, Highlights Korea-U.S. AI Partnership

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won praised Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during an annual gala hosted by The Korea Society in New York, recognizing the growing collaboration between South Korea and the United States in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies. The Van Fleet Award, presented to individuals who have strengthened Korea-U.S. relations, was given to Huang for his leadership in AI and Nvidia's partnership with SK in the AI semiconductor industry.

Chey highlighted Nvidia's role in designing the "brain" of AI systems, while SK manufactures the memory, likening their relationship to a fast-paced Korean cultural phrase, "ppalli-ppalli." He noted that Huang always asks how he can make processes faster, echoing Korea's "ppalli-ppalli" spirit. Chey drew a parallel between the history of the Korea-U.S. alliance, established by General Van Fleet, and Huang's leadership in AI, stating that the front line has shifted from battlefields to data centers.

He also mentioned "Jensen's Rule," jokingly describing the practice of buying more to save more, referencing the significant AI investments being made. Chey thanked Huang for inspiring grander thinking and expressed pride in their partnership. Both SK hynix and Nvidia supply essential components for AI accelerators, making them crucial partners in the rapidly growing AI infrastructure ecosystem.