Lee Jae-yong and Chey Tae-won Reunite with Jensen Huang, Showcasing Alliance with Foldables and GPUs

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won gathered together once again in New York on the 28th (local time).

The gathering was to celebrate CEO Huang's receipt of the Van Fleet Award.

The Korea Society, a US-Korean nonprofit friendship organization, presented the Van Fleet Award to CEO Huang on this day in recognition of his "pioneering leadership and innovative contributions to the AI semiconductor industry, a core sector of US-Korea economic cooperation."

Chairman Lee and Chairman Chey personally attended the annual gala, which doubled as the award ceremony, to offer their congratulations.

They also showed off their close ties with CEO Huang, sharing lighthearted and warm remarks.

First, Chairman Lee mentioned that his father, the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, also received the Van Fleet Award 20 years ago, opening by saying, "I don't think anyone is more deserving of this award than Jensen."

Chairman Lee stated, "He has put his company at the center of everything happening in AI today, redefined what computing can do, and is now powering industries worldwide and helping build something much greater. That is the true partnership and true impact between the US and Korea."

In particular, Chairman Lee remarked, "Putting all of that aside, the two of us share three things in common: both of our companies are going 'all-in.'"

He then added, "Both of us have a daughter named Madison."

Madison is the English name of Chairman Lee's daughter, Won-ju, as well as the name of NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's daughter.

Chairman Lee continued, "Third, we both love the Galaxy Z Fold 8," drawing laughter from the audience.

Samsung Electronics also broadcasted a congratulatory video celebrating CEO Huang's award on electronic billboards in New York's Times Square.

Next taking the stage, Chairman Chey said, "Every time I meet Jensen, his question is, 'Can you make it faster?' Just like Korean people who say 'Ppalli-ppalli' [hurry, hurry]."

Chairman Chey is also a second-generation recipient of the Van Fleet Award, following his late father, Chairman Chey Jong-hyun.

Chairman Chey stated, "We gel well together. NVIDIA takes charge of the design and brains, while SK makes the memory. When Jensen forgets something, he knows exactly who to call."

He also emphasized, "Seventy years ago, General Van Fleet built the frontline of the US-Korea alliance, and Jensen stands at the frontline of that alliance today. That frontline is no longer a battlefield, but a data center. Have you heard of Jensen's Law that 'the more you buy, the more you save'? I genuinely believe in it."

Raising a toast, Chairman Chey said, "I am truly glad to be your partner, and I hope our partnership grows even faster than the demand for GPUs."
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.