Global business leaders Jensen Huang, Lee Jae-yong, and Choi Tae-won meet in New York to celebrate CEO Huang’s award

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, attended side by side to send congratulatory messages as Jensen Huang, chief executive officer (CEO) of NVIDIA, received the “2026 Van Fleet Award” for his contributions to U.S.-South Korea relations. The two emphasized the cooperative relationship between Samsung Electronics, SK, and NVIDIA—key partners in the artificial intelligence (AI) era—while also highlighting the significance of the U.S.-South Korea industrial alliance.

Lee (Chairman) took the stage at the Korea Society 2026 Annual Gala held in New York, U.S., on the 28th (local time) to congratulate CEO Huang on receiving the “2026 Van Fleet Award.”

“It is an honor to celebrate the 2026 Van Fleet Award received by Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, today,” Lee (Chairman) said. “My father also received the same award exactly 20 years ago, so it is even more special for me.” The late Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung, was awarded the Van Fleet Award in 2006 in recognition of his contributions to U.S.-South Korea economic cooperation and the development of relations between the two countries.

Lee (Chairman) evaluated CEO Huang as a figure standing at the center of the AI industry. “Jensen has grown NVIDIA into a company that is at the center of everything happening in the AI field today,” he said. “He redefined what computing can do, and it is now driving industries around the world.” He further assessed that CEO Huang is contributing to creating “true partnership and tangible results” between the two countries.

The personal connection between the two was also revealed. Lee (Chairman) stated that there are three commonalities between the two, first citing AI.

He emphasized, “Both our companies are betting everything on AI.” He also cited as a commonality that both men like Samsung Electronics’ foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold.

The connection between the two dates back approximately 25 years. “I first met Jensen about 25 years ago at CES,” Lee (Chairman) recalled. “Even then, he had big dreams and had the courage to bet boldly on those dreams, pouring everything into what he believed in.”

Choi Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, who took the stage next, compared the relationship between NVIDIA and SK to “the brain and memory.”

“Every time I meet Jensen, his first question is always ‘Can you make it faster,’” Choi (Chairman) said, likening this to Korea’s “ppalli-ppalli” (hurry-hurry) culture.

He stated, “The partnership between NVIDIA and SK is simple.” “NVIDIA designs the brain, and SK makes the memory.” He explained further, “If NVIDIA thinks as fast as light, SK ensures that it never forgets.”

He also compared the front line of the AI era to the battlefield where General Van Fleet once stood. Choi (Chairman) noted that the front line, which was once a battlefield, has now moved to data centers, and said that CEO Huang, who leads this effort, “wears a black leather jacket instead of a military uniform.”

In his toast, Choi (Chairman) said, “Please raise your glasses for Jensen Huang and his family, and for the U.S.-South Korea alliance.” “I hope our partnership expands faster than GPU demand.”

Meanwhile, Jensen Huang, chief executive officer (CEO) of NVIDIA, reflected on his decades-long connection with South Korea at the Korea Society’s “2026 Van Fleet Award” ceremony held in New York, U.S., on the 28th (local time), emphasizing an “AI infrastructure alliance.”

“I first encountered South Korea when I was younger than my children, during the time I was learning how to start a company and become a CEO,” CEO Huang said. “The emotion of that moment, when young people in South Korea were passionate about StarCraft and NVIDIA and shouting out the name of the company I founded at the top of their lungs, still takes my breath away.” He continued, “Over the past 25 years, I have watched South Korea leap from a technology adopter to the front line of global technology.” “This is an ‘industrial miracle’ and an ‘industrial revolution.’”

CEO Huang also stated, “The national character, resilience, and desire for greatness of the Korean people are something that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.” He emphasized, “I feel a deep sense of pride in standing at the intersection of two great nations at a time when relations between our countries are more important than ever.”

While delivering his acceptance speech, CEO Huang noticed the screen of the mobile phone in his pocket glowing brightly and introduced it by saying, “This is the brightest phone in the world, a Samsung Galaxy,” drawing loud laughter and applause from attendees at the venue and Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, who had given a congratulatory address earlier.

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*This content was translated by AI.