This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) Jensen Huang may have just turned a Seoul fried chicken dinner into a stock market spectacle. Photos of Huang sharing beers and fried chicken with Samsung Electronics (SSNLF) Chair Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Chung Euisun at Kkanbu Chicken went viral this week, setting off a speculative buying frenzy across South Korea’s retail-heavy market. While Kkanbu itself isn’t listed, investors rushed into anything that even smelled of chicken Kyochon F&B soared as much as 20%, poultry processor Cherrybro hit its daily 30% limit with trading volumes nearly 200 times average, and robot maker Neuromeka jumped sharply. It’s the latest reminder that in Korea, virality can move markets faster than fundamentals ever could.
But behind the viral moment sits a deeper play. Huang’s trip to Seoul wasn’t just about beer and banter it was about business. Nvidia has been pushing to expand its presence in South Korea, a crucial supply chain hub as the company faces tighter export restrictions in China. During his visit, Huang announced fresh AI chip deals with Samsung and Hyundai moves that could strengthen Nvidia’s foothold in memory and automotive computing. For the Korean conglomerates, closer ties with Nvidia could mean a steadier supply of the high-end GPUs that power next-generation artificial intelligence systems.
Huang’s influence has become something of a phenomenon in its own right. Over the past year, several smaller AI firms have seen their shares surge after he casually name-dropped them in presentations. Now, his simple dinner outing has triggered a similar reaction only this time, it’s a fried chicken rally. As Huang told reporters outside the Seoul restaurant, I love fried chicken and I love beer and I love fried chicken and beer with my friends. For investors watching the AI boom unfold, it could be another sign that Nvidia’s reach cultural or commercial is still expanding.