Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has returned to South Korea for the first time in 15 years, announcing major new partnerships with leading tech companies, Hyundai Motor, Samsung, SK, and Naver, to expand the nation’s AI infrastructure and physical AI capabilities.
The announcement was made during the APEC Summit 2025, as Nvidia and the South Korean government revealed an expanded collaboration that will see the country acquire over 260,000 Nvidia GPUs. Around 50,000 GPUs will support public initiatives like national AI foundation models and a government-backed AI data center, while the remaining 200,000+ GPUs will go to corporate partners for AI-driven innovation in manufacturing, robotics, and autonomous systems.
Samsung and Nvidia team up on AI factory and 6G
Samsung plans to build an AI Megafactory with Nvidia, integrating AI into every stage of its semiconductor and device manufacturing using 50,000 Nvidia GPUs and the Omniverse platform. The two companies are also collaborating on HBM4, a next-gen memory chip designed for advanced AI applications.
Nvidia will further work with Samsung, SK Telecom, KT, LG Uplus, and ETRI to co-develop AI-RAN, a new technology that uses AI to enhance mobile base station efficiency and power usage, paving the way for 6G innovation.
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Hyundai drives future mobility with AI
Hyundai Motor Group and Nvidia are partnering to develop AI infrastructure for autonomous mobility, smart factories, and robotics. The project will use 50,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs for AI training and deployment, with research centers set up in South Korea to advance the physical AI industry.
SK and Naver advance industrial and physical AI
SK Group is collaborating with Nvidia to launch Asia’s first enterprise-led manufacturing AI cloud, offering AI simulation and digital twin access to startups and public institutions.
Meanwhile, Naver Cloud is developing a “Physical AI” platform with Nvidia to bridge the digital and physical worlds, applying AI to industries like semiconductors, energy, shipbuilding, and biotech.
Nvidia’s strengthened partnerships mark a new era of AI-industrial integration, showcasing how global tech leaders are aligning to build intelligent factories, vehicles, and networks.
The announcement follows Nvidia’s recent wave of global partnerships with companies such as Eli Lilly, Palantir, Uber, and Joby Aviation, propelling its market value beyond $5 trillion and cementing its leadership in the AI revolution.
