Nvidia Signs New South Korean AI Deals With SK Hynix, SK Telecom and Naver
Synopsis
Nvidia has announced a series of AI-focused partnerships with South Korean companies including SK Hynix, SK Telecom, Naver, Doosan and LG Group. The agreements cover advanced memory chips, AI data centres, cloud infrastructure and humanoid robots. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said SK Hynix will remain the company's largest memory partner under a new multi-year deal. SK Telecom plans to launch a large AI cloud platform by 2027, while LG will collaborate with Nvidia on robotics and future data centre technology. The deals highlight Nvidia's expanding role in the global AI ecosystem.
Key Highlights
- SK Hynix clinches multi-year deal to develop AI memory chips
- SK Telecom will build a gigawatt-scale AI cloud in Korea
- A similar partnership is also underway between Nvidia and LG for humanoid robots, as well as next-gen data centres.
- Nvidia's biggest memory partner will still be SK Hynix, said Jensen Huang.
On Monday, Nvidia was in South Korea to unveil a string of new partnerships aligned with some major chip supplies as well as infrastructure needed for the global artificial intelligence boom.
The announcements came during the visit of Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang, who arrived in Korea on Friday. Huang lunched with the biggest business leaders of the country, attended public events and negotiated with top tech giants during the trip. The value of the treaties was not disclosed.
One of the most important contracts made was with SK Hynix (one of the world's biggest memory chip makers). The firms have signed a multi-year partnership to create next-gen memory products for AI data centres globally. Huang said SK Hynix has at the same time been the biggest supplier of memory to Nvidia and will stay that way. He said Nvidia has also bought billions of dollars worth of memory chips from SK Hynix over the years and anticipated significant purchases to grow. The term of the agreement is for over two years with options for further extension.
The collaboration comes amid unprecedented demand for AI hardware. Nvidia's ambitions for AI have spread outside data centres to robotics, PCs and AI supercomputers, boosting demand for cutting-edge memory chips. The analysts said the deal also signals a transition in the memory chip market, where products are becoming highly tailored to customer demands.
At the same time, Nvidia announced new projects with South Korea-based telecom operator SK Telecom, which also plans to build a gigawatt-scale AI cloud platform in its home country based on Nvidia’s technology. Construction on the first of its AI data centres is due to start in 2027, Australian financial services firm, 207 Capital has previously reported. Nvidia technology will also be used by South Korean internet company Naver and Doosan Group to help create data centres for AI.
The group believes the energy solutions will form part of Nvidia's upcoming data centre systems, Doosan said. The firm, which also sells robots and actually manufactures materials used in practice, Nvidia's extremely powerful Blackwell AI chips, plans to apply physical AI technology from Nvidia to its robot program.
Huang also had an in-person meeting with Koo Kwang-mo where he confirmed that Nvidia is working with LG Group on humanoid robots. The collaboration spans electronics, motor technology, mechanical systems and artificial intelligence. The two firms are also working together on future data centres including aspects such as cooling systems, power delivery and overall facility design.
In terms of the global AI supply chain, South Korea remains one of the most relevant countries. Home to the world's top two memory chip suppliers, SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics. Strong demand for anything to do with AI has helped both companies.
But South Korean technology stocks tumbled on Monday, pushing the index to its lowest since June after solid jobs data from the United States raised expectations that the U.S. The Federal Reserve may be forced to raise interest rates later in 2026.
However, the AI market sell-off did not worry Huang much. He said that the long-term outlook for artificial intelligence is still extremely positive. During his visit, Huang also met Samsung semiconductor chief Jun Young-hyun and Euisun Chung.
Follow Inspirepreneur Magazine for daily global business news.
At Inspirepreneurs Magazine, covering entrepreneurship, business failures, and the human stories behind the world's most ambitious founders. She writes at the intersection of strategy and storytelling.
