When a Fried Chicken Dinner Becomes a Korean Stock Market Event: Inside Nvidia CEO's Seoul Gathering

The viral moment nobody expected: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sharing Korean fried chicken with Samsung and Hyundai executives turned into a full-blown market spectacle, with related stocks skyrocketing and trading circuits activated. What started as a casual business dinner in Seoul has become a textbook case of how celebrity power and social media momentum can reshape market dynamics.

The Unexpected Catalyst: How a Seoul Meal Triggered a Stock Rally

When Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Motor Executive Chairman Chung Eui-sun gathered at Kkanbu Chicken restaurant in Seoul’s Gangnam district on Thursday evening, few predicted the market aftershock. The scene itself was remarkably down-to-earth: Huang in his signature black leather jacket, three servings of Korean fried chicken, cheese sticks, and beers. He even drank soju mixed with beer borrowed from the next table.

Yet within hours of photos and videos spreading across social media, Korea’s capital market caught the fever. Although Kkanbu Chicken isn’t publicly traded, its competitor Kyochon F&B Co. stock jumped as much as 20%. The real shock came from poultry processor Cherrybro Co., which hit the daily 30% surge limit with trading volume approximately 200 times its average. Even Neuromeka Co., which manufactures fried chicken-serving robots, saw its stock price respond to the viral narrative.

The dinner wasn’t just theater. At the table, Huang handed out gift boxes featuring Nvidia DGX AI systems while displaying a handwritten note reading “To our cooperation, to the future of the world!” Lee Jae-yong and Chung Eui-sun later picked up a bill around 2.5 million Korean won ($1,750), covering meals for other restaurant diners as well. Outside, Huang spent time interacting with crowds and signing memorabilia.

The Business Reality Behind the Spectacle

This Seoul gathering coincided with the APEC CEO Summit, but its significance extends far beyond a casual networking meal. Nvidia had been engineering something more substantial: new partnership agreements with Korea’s tech and automotive powerhouses.

According to reports, Nvidia has inked deals with Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group, and SK Group to supply over 260,000 AI chips aimed at launching Korean AI infrastructure projects. The Korean government plans to build what officials call “sovereign AI”—government-controlled computing infrastructure operated independently. More than 50,000 of Nvidia’s latest AI accelerators will eventually be deployed across data centers including the National AI Computing Center and facilities belonging to companies like Kakao, Naver, and NHN Cloud.

For Nvidia, already becoming the first company to cross the $5 trillion market cap threshold this week, these Korean partnerships represent critical expansion in a key regional market. For Korean companies, the arrangement guarantees more stable GPU supply access. Huang himself emphasized the business scope: “I have many partners here, and we have many announcements to make.”

The “Meme Stock” Phenomenon: When Celebrity Culture Meets Trading

What makes this story particularly revealing is how it exposes the mechanics of Korea’s speculative trading culture. The fried chicken dinner became a case study in how internet virality can override fundamental analysis.

Since the actual restaurant isn’t publicly listed, retail traders pivoted to related companies based purely on conceptual association. Fried chicken chains, poultry suppliers, robotics manufacturers—all benefited from the halo effect. However, these explosive movements proved temporary. Stocks that surged 20-30% in the immediate aftermath retreated as quickly as they rose.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Earlier this year, when former U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned a pen used by Korean President Lee Jae-myung, shares of stationery maker MonAmi soared before collapsing back to baseline. The pattern reveals something deeper about market psychology in Korea: small-cap stocks, retail participation, and short-term speculation around cultural moments create what traders call “meme” rallies.

Analysts note this reflects the unique characteristics of the Korean stock market, where risk-seeking behavior chasing momentary momentum often disconnects entirely from company fundamentals. Internet trends, celebrity influence, and narrative power can momentarily override operational reality.

What Jensen Huang’s Visit Reveals

This Seoul moment demonstrates something analysts have long observed: Jensen Huang’s personal influence extends beyond Nvidia’s performance into broader market territory. His 2024 speeches mentioning AI companies similarly triggered stock surges. He’s become, in effect, a market-moving figure whose appearance carries cultural and financial weight.

Yet beneath the spectacle lies genuine strategic substance. The fried chicken dinner was both authentic business relationship-building and calculated visibility. Huang’s presence in Korea strengthens Nvidia’s position in a market where semiconductor leadership and AI infrastructure development are increasingly intertwined with geopolitical strategy.

The Korean government’s sovereign AI initiative requires stable partnerships with leading chip suppliers. Samsung and Hyundai represent both customers and ecosystem anchors. The dinner wasn’t just PR—it was relationship insurance wrapped in Korean fried chicken and social media shareability. For markets watching Nvidia’s expansion play, this Seoul gathering signaled something straightforward: the company is deepening roots in one of the world’s most strategically important tech markets.