- Nvidia to supply South Korea with 260,000 GPUs to support AI growth
- Samsung and Nvidia to co-build AI factory for smarter manufacturing
What happened: Nvidia deepens AI collaboration with South Korea’s tech giants
Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang is visiting South Korea for the first time in 15 years to announce new AI collaborations with key local players including Hyundai Motor, Samsung, SK, and Naver. During the APEC Summit 2025, Nvidia and the South Korean government revealed an enhanced partnership aimed at fortifying the country’s AI infrastructure and capabilities.
As part of the agreement, South Korea will secure over 260,000 of Nvidia’s latest GPUs. Of this, 50,000 GPUs will support public sector projects, such as the development of domestic AI models and a national AI data centre. The remaining 210,000 GPUs will be distributed to leading companies like Samsung, SK, Hyundai, and Naver to drive advancements in AI-based manufacturing and industry-specific AI model development.
In a significant move, Samsung announced plans to build an AI mega-factory in collaboration with Nvidia. This factory will incorporate AI throughout its manufacturing processes for semiconductors, mobile devices, and robotics. The facility will use more than 50,000 Nvidia GPUs along with the Omniverse platform to create an intelligent network capable of real-time production analysis, optimisation, and predictive maintenance.
Additionally, Nvidia will partner with South Korea’s telecom operators — SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus — along with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) to develop AI-RAN. This next-generation mobile network integrates AI into mobile base stations to optimise performance while reducing battery consumption.
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Why it’s important
This expanded partnership reflects the growing demand for AI across industries and the strategic importance of AI infrastructure. South Korea is set to become a leader in AI-driven manufacturing, with major companies such as Samsung using cutting-edge AI to revolutionise production processes. Nvidia’s collaboration with South Korea’s tech giants strengthens the country’s position in the global AI race.
The combined efforts of Nvidia and South Korea’s telecom and tech sectors also aim to advance the development of 6G networks and AI-driven mobile solutions, signalling a new era of connectivity and innovation.
