Korea Tech Daily — 2026-04-29
Nvidia executive Madison Huang is meeting with Samsung and SK Hynix leadership today to discuss physical AI partnerships, marking a significant deepening of U.S.-Korea AI hardware collaboration. Meanwhile, Google has agreed to build an AI campus in Seoul, and South Korea's lawmakers are pushing for a China-style "big fund" model to redirect capital into AI and semiconductor industries.
Korea Tech Daily — 2026-04-29
Top Story
Nvidia Executive Meets Samsung, SK Hynix to Discuss Physical AI Partnership
Senior Nvidia executive Madison Huang is holding meetings with counterparts from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix today (April 29) to discuss cooperation in physical AI, according to industry sources. The high-level talks signal a strategic deepening of the AI hardware supply chain relationship between Nvidia and Korea's two dominant memory chipmakers, who already supply HBM memory for Nvidia's flagship AI accelerators. Physical AI — which encompasses robotics and real-world AI deployment — represents the next frontier of the AI hardware boom that has already propelled both Korean chipmakers to record earnings.
Samsung · SK Hynix · LG
SK Hynix Q1 NAND Revenue Surges 248% to 11 Trillion Won
SK Hynix's Q1 2026 NAND revenue surged 248% year-on-year to 11.04 trillion won, surpassing 10 trillion won for the first time as AI storage demand drives memory prices sevenfold higher. The record result reinforces SK Hynix's dominant position in the AI memory market following its first-quarter operating margin of approximately 72%.
Samsung and SK Hynix ELS Issuance Quadruples as Investors Chase Yields
Korea's equity-linked securities (ELS) market has rebounded sharply, with domestic issuances linked to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix quadrupling. Products are offering up to 24% annual returns with ultra-low knock-in structures, reflecting surging retail investor demand for exposure to the AI chip rally.
Korea's Stock Market Surpasses UK, Ranks 8th Globally by Market Cap
Driven by record performances from Samsung and SK Hynix, South Korea's stock market has overtaken the United Kingdom and France in total market capitalization, now ranking 8th in the world. The milestone — reported by Bloomberg — underscores how the AI-driven memory boom is reshaping global capital markets and elevating Korea's financial stature.
Naver · Kakao · LINE
No fresh breaking news was available for Naver, Kakao, or LINE from the past 24 hours (after 2026-04-27). The most recent items for these companies in research results dated from January–February 2026 and are outside the coverage window. The sections below reflect the latest verifiable fresh data.
[Coverage gap] No Naver, Kakao, or LINE stories published after 2026-04-27 were found in today's research sweep. The most recent Naver/Kakao coverage (from January 2026) described both companies accelerating into agentic AI services, including Naver's AI shopping agent and Kakao's deeper KakaoTalk–ChatGPT integration. Watch for Q1 2026 earnings announcements from both companies in the coming weeks.
Startups & Investment
Google to Build AI Campus in Seoul
South Korea and Google have agreed to build an artificial intelligence campus in Seoul, presidential policy adviser Kim Yong-beom announced on Monday. The campus is designed to develop cooperation between Google and local engineers and startups, representing a major vote of confidence in Korea's AI talent pipeline and ecosystem.
Korea's New Industries Drew 5.2 Trillion Won in Venture Investment in 2025
South Korea's AI and semiconductor sectors attracted 5.2 trillion won in venture investment in 2025, accounting for 76% of total venture funding, according to the SME Ministry. The data reinforces the structural shift in Korean startup financing toward deep-tech and AI-adjacent companies, even as venture firms face infrastructure bottlenecks in executing AI strategies.
Policy & Industry
Korean Lawmakers Urge Adoption of China-Style 100 Trillion Won "Big Fund" for AI
Korean lawmakers are pressing the financial sector to redirect capital from real estate into strategic industries, explicitly citing China's 100 trillion won "big fund" model for AI and semiconductors as a template. The push comes as Korea's venture firms report stalling in their AI transitions due to infrastructure gaps — with intent outpacing execution according to analysis by Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC). The legislative pressure reflects growing urgency to mobilize domestic capital at scale to compete with both U.S. and Chinese state-backed AI investment programs.
What to Watch
- Nvidia–Samsung–SK Hynix Physical AI Talks (Today): The outcomes of Madison Huang's Seoul meetings could establish supply agreements or joint development frameworks for the next wave of AI hardware — watch for announcements in the coming days.
- Google AI Campus Details: Seoul's presidential office confirmed the agreement; formal announcement of timeline, location, and investment scope is expected. This could catalyze further Big Tech AI campus commitments in Korea.
- Korea Legislative "Big Fund" Proposal: Lawmakers are actively debating a state-backed AI investment vehicle modeled on China's approach. Monitor committee votes and Ministry of SMEs & Startups responses for budget implications and potential sector beneficiaries in the semiconductor and AI infrastructure space.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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