NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang is using a high-profile visit to South Korea to strengthen ties with key partners across the artificial intelligence ecosystem as the company looks to secure critical memory supplies and expand into robotics and sovereign AI.
According to a report from Counterpoint Research analyst Tom Kang, Huang’s four-day trip, which began June 5, highlights South Korea’s growing importance to NVIDIA’s long-term strategy alongside Taiwan.
NVIDIA Securing Memory Supply
A major focus of the visit is securing high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, which has become one of the most important components in advanced AI infrastructure.
Huang held separate meetings with executives from SK Group and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:SSNLF) as NVIDIA prepares for the next phase of its AI platform roadmap, including the Vera Rubin architecture.
Counterpoint estimates that SK hynix controls about 57% of the global HBM market. Samsung Electronics is also seeking to gain share through future HBM4 supply agreements with NVIDIA.
The report noted that HBM4 and HBM4E production, along with advanced packaging capacity, could become key bottlenecks as AI demand accelerates. NVIDIA is seeking priority access to future memory supply as it expands AI factory deployments worldwide.
The trip also gives Huang an opportunity to assess Samsung Electronics’ progress in qualifying its latest HBM products for NVIDIA systems.
Robotics Becomes the Next AI Frontier
Beyond semiconductors, Huang is also promoting NVIDIA’s push into physical AI, robotics and industrial automation.
His itinerary included meetings with leaders from Hyundai Motor Group (OTC:HYMLF) and Doosan Group, both of which are investing heavily in robotics and AI-powered manufacturing technologies.
“Robotics is going to be the next major sector here in Korea — this is a great opportunity for Korea to invest in AI,” Huang told local media during the visit.
Counterpoint said South Korea’s combination of advanced manufacturing, automotive production and robotics expertise makes it an attractive market for NVIDIA’s next wave of AI initiatives.
Building Demand For Sovereign AI
Huang also met with Naver Corp. (OTC:NHNCF) Chairman Lee Hae-jin as NVIDIA works to deepen relationships with regional AI providers.
The discussions focused on localized large language models and sovereign AI infrastructure designed to meet local regulatory and data security requirements.
Counterpoint said supporting domestic AI ecosystems could help NVIDIA generate additional demand from enterprises and governments that prefer local cloud providers over U.S. hyperscalers.
AI Growth Extends Beyond Data Centers
Kang said the visit reflects NVIDIA’s broader strategy of strengthening both the supply and demand sides of the AI market.
While GPUs initially drove AI infrastructure spending, the report said demand is now expanding across memory, storage, custom AI chips and robotics. As hyperscalers increasingly develop their own AI processors, competition for HBM and advanced memory capacity is expected to intensify.
For NVIDIA, maintaining close relationships with South Korea’s memory suppliers and industrial partners may be critical to sustaining growth as AI adoption spreads beyond data centers and into the physical economy.
NVIDIA Price Action
NVDA Price Action: NVIDIA shares were up 0.32% at $209.30 during premarket trading on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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