Korea Tech Daily — 2026-06-08
Nvidia announced major AI infrastructure deals with SK Hynix, Naver, and Doosan on Monday, deepening its commitment to South Korea's semiconductor and data center ecosystem. The KOSPI index plunged 8.29% on the same day, though brokerages raised price targets for memory chip leaders citing long-term contract benefits. Former Naver CEO Han Seong-sook was nominated as South Korea's next prime minister, positioning AI expertise at the center of government policy.
Korea Tech Daily — 2026-06-08
Top Story
Nvidia announced a series of strategic partnerships with South Korean tech giants on Monday, including a multi-year technology deal with SK Hynix and AI data center development agreements with Naver and Doosan Group. The deals mark Nvidia's deepest commitment yet to securing advanced memory supplies and expanding AI infrastructure in a key regional hub. During a high-profile visit by CEO Jensen Huang, the company formalized collaborations to co-develop next-generation memory for computing platforms and construct gigawatt-scale AI factories. The announcements underscore Nvidia's strategy to lock in memory supply chains amid surging global AI demand.
Samsung · SK Hynix · LG
NH Investment Raises Samsung, SK Hynix Price Targets on Agentic AI Demand NH Investment lifted its target price for SK Hynix to 3.2 million won, citing favorable memory market conditions and improved earnings stability from long-term contract expansion. Both Samsung and SK Hynix benefit from structural tailwinds as agentic AI deployment accelerates globally.
Nvidia Explains Five Korea Deals: SK Hynix, Naver, and LG Gains Beyond SK Hynix and Naver, Nvidia's Korean partnerships extend to LG Electronics, creating a three-pronged strategy for memory supply, AI infrastructure, and consumer electronics integration. Each partnership addresses a critical component of Nvidia's Asia-Pacific expansion roadmap.
Naver · Kakao · LINE
Former Naver CEO Han Seong-sook Nominated as South Korea's Next Prime Minister President Lee Jae-myung nominated Han Seong-sook, former Naver CEO, as South Korea's next prime minister on June 7. If confirmed, her appointment would place AI and tech expertise at the center of government policy, signaling Seoul's strategic focus on agentic AI and semiconductor leadership during a critical period for industry growth.
Naver and Doosan Sign Nvidia AI Factory Agreement Naver announced a partnership with Nvidia to construct gigawatt-scale AI data centers, leveraging the platform's cloud infrastructure expertise and Nvidia's computing technology to serve Asia-Pacific AI deployment needs.
Startups & Investment
Korean Startup Investment Surpasses 1 Trillion Won for Third Straight Month Korean startup investment topped 1 trillion won in May 2026 for the third consecutive month, with 43% of seed deals concentrated in AI and robotics. The sustained funding momentum reflects Korea's pivot toward deep tech and autonomous systems as venture capital prioritizes next-generation capabilities.
Korea Pension Fund Venture Investing Doubles, Reshaping Startup Capital South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS) doubled its venture investment allocation in May 2026, signaling a structural shift in startup funding toward institutional capital. The $800 billion pension pivot creates new pathways for early-stage AI and deep tech companies seeking growth capital.
Policy & Industry
Market Volatility Marks June 8 as KOSPI Triggers Circuit Breaker The KOSPI index plunged 8.29% on June 8, triggering a circuit breaker during intraday trading and closing at 7,484.41 points. The steep decline occurred on the same day Nvidia announced Korean AI partnerships, suggesting profit-taking after weeks of semiconductor and tech stock rallies amid AI enthusiasm. The KOSDAQ fell 9.08% to 911.39 points.
What to Watch
- Samsung and SK Hynix Q2 earnings reports: Both companies are expected to deliver record-breaking performance driven by AI-driven memory demand, with operating profit targets exceeding 150 trillion won.
- Han Seong-sook prime minister confirmation hearing: Political approval of the former Naver CEO will signal whether AI policy becomes a centerpiece of Seoul's economic strategy.
- Nvidia-SK Hynix memory co-development roadmap: Details on next-generation HBM and memory specifications for AI accelerators will shape supply chain dynamics through 2027.
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