Samsung, SK Chiefs Gather as Jensen Huang Receives Van Fleet Award

 
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has received the Van Fleet Award, which honors individuals who have contributed to the development of South Korea-U.S. relations.

The Korea Society, a non-profit organization promoting friendship between South Korea and the United States, presented the award to Huang at its annual gala held in New York on the 28th (local time).

The Korea Society explained that the selection recognizes his pioneering leadership and innovative contributions to the artificial intelligence and semiconductor industries, which are core sectors of evolving South Korea-U.S. economic cooperation.

South Korea has served as an important partner in NVIDIA's global innovation ecosystem, and NVIDIA has expanded cooperation with major South Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Naver, and Hyundai Motor Group to strengthen its AI capabilities and global technology leadership, the Korea Society noted.

Accepting the award at the event, Huang said, "This award means a great deal to me, deeply because of the friendship I have built with Korea."

"Growing together with Korea over the past decades, it has been impossible not to love Korea," he said, adding, "I am grateful for the friendship I have built with the country of Korea, all the Korean people, and the precious friends gathered here today."

Huang also emphasized, "We stand at the beginning of building the largest industrial infrastructure in history. We will move forward together with everyone by instilling the certainty that technology will be built responsibly, safely, and for the advancement of society."

Pausing briefly during his acceptance speech as he thought a phone call was coming in, he was handed a mobile phone, held it up, and remarked, "This is the phone with the brightest screen in the world, the Samsung Galaxy," drawing laughter from the audience.

Korea Society President Abraham Kim said, "It is an honor to present the Van Fleet Award to CEO Huang, celebrating his pioneering leadership and the partnership between NVIDIA and South Korea's leading innovative companies such as SK Group, Samsung Electronics, Naver, and Hyundai."

The event was attended by numerous prominent figures from politics and business, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won.

Taking the stage, Chairman Lee delivered a congratulatory address, saying, "As someone who respects you, as a partner traveling together in this fast-changing industry, and above all, as a friend, I sincerely congratulate you on receiving this award."

Samsung Electronics also displayed a video celebrating Huang's award on the electronic billboards in New York's Times Square that day.

Chairman Chey also said, "I sincerely thank him for allowing us to think bigger," adding, "I am truly glad to be your partner."

Following a conversation at the reception, Huang, Chairman Lee, and Chairman Chey sat across from each other at the same table during the main event.

Huang, who is usually known for wearing a black leather jacket, attended the event in a suit and a black tie.

The Korea Society prepared a Tom Ford leather jacket, Huang's trademark, which was signed by Huang at the event and put up for auction.

The bidding price subsequently rose to 132,000 dollars (approximately 180 million won).

The Van Fleet Award was established in 1995 to honor General James Van Fleet, who fought in the Korean War as Commander of the Eighth U.S. Army and founded the Korea Society in 1957.

The award is presented annually to individuals who have contributed to strengthening South Korea-U.S. relations.

Past recipients include former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush, former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo, late SK Group Chairman Chey Jong-hyun, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, and the group BTS.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.