OpenAI Altman Visits South Korea Over the Weekend: Meeting with Samsung and SK Executives to Deepen Cooperation between AI Chips and Data Centers

Zhitongcaijing · 11/02 03:41

The Zhitong Finance App learned that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman paid an unannounced visit to South Korea over the weekend, met with Samsung Electronics executives, and held talks with SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won to deepen existing partnerships with leading Korean chipmakers.

Samsung said on Saturday that Altman met with about 50 executives from Samsung Electronics, Finance, and Biotechnology related companies in Yongin city south of Seoul. Samsung said the two sides discussed the development of artificial intelligence, potential business opportunities, and the impact of this technology on corporate decisions and operations.

In addition, according to reports, Altman also had lunch with SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won last Saturday. SK Hynix and SK Telecom executives attended the meeting. Local media reported that the two sides may have discussed AI chip and data center cooperation, including the supply of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and existing plans for AI data center development. However, participants did not provide details of the discussions.

Source of cooperation: Promoting the implementation of the “Stargate” program

Altman visited South Korea in October 2025. At that time, he met with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-rong, and SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won, and announced the establishment of a partnership with Samsung and SK Group as part of OpenAI's “Stargate” program. The plan aims to expand AI infrastructure globally, and Korea is participating through cooperation focusing on the supply of advanced memory chips and AI data center development.

Under the agreement, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan to increase production of advanced memory chips, while OpenAI and its Korean partner agreed to explore the development of AI data centers in South Korea. OpenAI pointed out that South Korea is in a leading position in global AI preparations and has strong public and private capital to enhance competitiveness, which is the reason it is expanding its business in Korea.

According to Samsung, before Oltman's latest visit, he had a meeting with Lee Jae-rong, the executive chairman of Samsung Electronics, at OpenAI's San Francisco headquarters in July of this year.

According to local media reports, Altman left South Korea last Saturday.