Shares in South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics climbed sharply on Monday as investors bet that upcoming meetings between Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and senior Korean business leaders could lead to deeper partnerships in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Samsung shares rose nearly 10%, pushing its market value above 2,000 trillion won ($1.32 trillion), while LG Electronics jumped as much as 28%, helping drive gains across Seoul’s technology sector. The rally came ahead of Huang’s expected visit to South Korea following the Computex technology conference in Taiwan.
Investors have focused on reports that Huang is scheduled to meet executives from Samsung, LG and other leading Korean companies as Nvidia seeks to strengthen supply chains and expand collaborations in AI hardware, memory chips and next-generation computing.
The gains also reflect growing optimism about South Korea’s role in the global AI boom. The country’s semiconductor exports recently reached record levels as demand for advanced chips used in AI systems continued to accelerate. Samsung has begun shipping samples of its latest high-bandwidth memory chips, a key component in AI servers and data centres powered by Nvidia technology.
Nvidia has emerged as the dominant force in the AI hardware market, and any indication of closer ties with Korean manufacturers is being closely watched by investors. Samsung and SK Hynix are among the world’s largest producers of memory chips used in Nvidia’s AI accelerators, while LG has increasingly positioned itself around robotics, smart devices and AI infrastructure.
Strategic context
- Nvidia last year pledged to supply 260,000 advanced AI chips to South Korea’s government and major firms including Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group.
- Samsung recently began shipping samples of its latest high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, critical for AI data centres, to customers such as Nvidia.
- The move positions Samsung ahead of rivals in distributing next-generation HBM technology, a segment where it has lagged SK Hynix. Analysts note this has helped bolster its share price
Outlook
The rally reflects investor confidence that closer ties between Nvidia and South Korea’s tech giants could accelerate the country’s role in the AI boom. With exports surging and firms racing to supply advanced chips, South Korea is positioning itself as a central hub in the global AI supply chain.
