OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Visits South Korea to Strengthen Chip Partnerships

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made a surprise visit to South Korea over the weekend, engaging with top executives from Samsung and SK Group to deepen collaborations on artificial intelligence chip technology and infrastructure. The meetings highlight OpenAI's ongoing commitment to expanding its AI capabilities through strategic partnerships with South Korea's leading technology companies.

On Saturday, Altman met with about 50 executives from Samsung's affiliates, which include divisions in electronics, finance, and biotechnology, at a facility in Yongin, just south of Seoul. Samsung representatives said the discussions touched on the latest AI advancements, emerging business opportunities, and how AI technologies could influence corporate governance and operational strategies.

In addition to the group meeting, Altman held a luncheon with Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, one of South Korea's largest conglomerates. Reports indicate that senior executives from SK Hynix, a major memory chip manufacturer, and SK Telecom, the country's largest wireless carrier, were also present. While specific details were not disclosed, local media suggest that the talks likely involved collaboration on AI chip production and the development of AI-focused data centers.

SK Hynix declined to confirm the meeting when approached by CNBC, leaving the precise agenda undisclosed. However, this visit follows Altman's previous trip to South Korea in October 2025, when he met with President Lee Jae Myung, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. During that visit, OpenAI announced partnerships with Samsung and SK Group as part of its Stargate project, aimed at building AI infrastructure worldwide.

The Stargate initiative focuses on scaling AI infrastructure, with South Korea playing a key role due to its strength in advanced memory chip production and innovation in data center technologies. Under this partnership, Samsung and SK Hynix committed to increasing output of high-performance memory chips tailored for AI workloads. Meanwhile, OpenAI and its Korean collaborators agreed to explore establishing AI data centers within the country to support growing computational demands.

South Korea's status as a global leader in AI readiness and its substantial public and private investment in AI development have made it an attractive location for OpenAI's expansion efforts. The government’s supportive policies and the country’s cutting-edge semiconductor industry provide a favorable environment for advancing AI technologies.

Altman's visit also follows a July meeting with Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee at OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco, indicating continued high-level dialogue between the companies. After concluding his engagements in South Korea, Altman departed on Saturday.

This series of meetings underscores OpenAI's strategy to build global partnerships that enhance its AI capabilities by leveraging leading semiconductor technology and infrastructure development in South Korea. As AI technology continues to evolve and demand for specialized chips grows, collaborations like these will play a crucial role in shaping the future landscape of artificial intelligence.