Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Samsung’s Lee, and Hyundai’s Chung Treat Seoul Diners to Free Chicken and Beer
Diners at a popular fried chicken restaurant in Seoul were in for an unexpected treat when three of the world’s most influential tech leaders – Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Chung Eui-sun – walked in for dinner and ended up paying everyone’s bill.
The trio, whose combined net worth exceeds $195 billion, visited Kkanbu Chicken, a well-known chain in South Korea’s capital, to enjoy the local favorite pairing of fried chicken and beer, known as “chimaek.” The outing took place ahead of the APEC summit in Gyeongju.
“I love fried chicken and beer with my friends, so Kkanbu is a perfect place, right?” Huang told curious onlookers streaming the moment live. The name “Kkanbu,” which also means “close friend” in Korean slang, seemed fitting for the occasion.
According to local reports, the billionaires enjoyed a spread that included cheese balls, cheese sticks, boneless chicken, and Korean beer Terra, paired with the traditional soju spirit. Video footage from the event showed the three business leaders linking arms for a celebratory toast – a customary gesture of friendship in South Korea.
Huang later stepped outside to offer food to fans gathered outside the restaurant, holding up baskets of chicken and asking, “Anyone? Fried chicken?” before praising the meal.
When Huang rang the restaurant’s symbolic “golden bell” – signaling that he would cover everyone’s tab – diners erupted in cheers. Local reports later revealed that Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong paid the main bill, while Hyundai’s Chung Eui-sun covered a second round.
The cheerful gathering came just before high-level trade discussions at the APEC summit, where Huang met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. During the meeting, he announced that Nvidia would supply over 260,000 AI chips to South Korean firms, including Samsung and Hyundai, as part of efforts to expand the country’s artificial intelligence infrastructure.
