Jensen Huang meets Korean tech titans over grilled pork — in pictures

Dipping green chili peppers into ssamjang — a thick, spicy-sweet paste — and piling grilled pork, scallions and kimchi onto a perilla leaf before wrapping it into a hefty bite is a familiar ritual at Korean drinking dinners.

PARK EUN-JEE
Published
Four men sit at a round table with Korean barbecue dishes and raise drinks inside a restaurant.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, far right, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, second from right, Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, far left, and LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo toast at a dinner of grilled pork and soju at the restaurant Hyeongnim Jeoyo in Mapo District, western Seoul, on June 5. Hyeongnim, Jeoyo means "Brother, it's me."

Dipping green chili peppers into ssamjang — a thick, spicy-sweet paste — and piling grilled pork, scallions and kimchi onto a perilla leaf before wrapping it into a hefty bite is a familiar ritual at boozy Korean dinners, especially among middle-aged men, or ajeossi.

And Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, alongside his companions SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, was at the heart of this particular, closely followed dinner in Seoul's youthful Hongik University neighborhood.

Crowded night market stall with people eating and serving food under bright lights.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang takes a photo with children at a restaurant while he meets with the heads of Korea's major conglomerates.

The tech titans gathered at around 7 p.m. on Friday, following Huang's arrival in the country at 1:30 p.m. the same day.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, second from left, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, far left, Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, third from left, and LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo meet for a dinner of grilled pork and soju at the restaurant Hyeongnim Jeoyo in Mapo District, western Seoul, on June 5.

This time, the venue was the Korean barbecue restaurant Hyeongnim Jeoyo, which translates to “Brother, it's me,” a name in line with last year's setting at a Kkanbu Chicken store. “Kkanbu” is Korean slang referring to a close friend or trusted companion

Hundreds of people gather outside a grilled pork restaurant, where Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Naver founder Lee Hae-jin are meeting, on June 5.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, right, walks with his daughter, Madison Huang, to a gathering with Korean business heads in Mapo District, western Seoul, on June 5.

All four executives are undoubtedly billionaires, but it was Naver's Lee who picked up the tab, paying with the internet firm's payment service, Naver Pay.

Crowd gathered at an outdoor food stall with a Korean menu sign and vendors preparing food.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, second from right, hands out Korean desserts with Korean tech chiefs to reporters and people waiting outside a restaurant in Mapo District, western Seoul, on June 5.

After dinner, the four executives engaged with reporters and people who had gathered outside the restaurant for a glimpse of the high-profile meeting.

Customers stand in front of a Korean street food stall with menu signs and trays of food.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, second from right, and Korean business chiefs pass out Korean desserts to reporters and people waiting outside a restaurant in Mapo District, western Seoul, on June 5.

They handed out desserts, including bottles of banana milk, a popular Korean dairy drink, and bungeoppang, a fish-shaped pastry traditionally filled with sweet red bean paste.

Group of people standing outdoors at night holding a handwritten sign under bright lights.
From left: LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won hold a commemorative autograph board for the grilled pork restaurant where they gathered for dinner in Mapo District, western Seoul, on June 5.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [[email protected]]

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