Huang starts the kindness; Lee Jae-yong and Chung Eui-sun compete to pay for two rounds of food and drinks for all surprised diners.
In the midst of high-stakes global diplomacy and the relentless pace of technological advancement, a moment of pure, unexpected joy unfolded in a bustling Seoul fried chicken joint on a Thursday evening. The humble setting of Kkanbu Chicken, a beloved spot for chimaek—the iconic Korean pairing of fried chicken and cold draft beer—became the stage for an unforgettable act of spontaneous generosity.
Forget the boardroom. The guests who dropped into the unassuming Kkanbu Chicken restaurant were the surprise trio who run the world: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun. With a combined net worth of an estimated $195 billion, they typically command the global economy, but that evening, they were simply seeking a casual meal before the APEC summit.
The restaurant’s name, Kkanbu, a Korean slang word meaning “close friend,” perfectly mirrored the spirit of their relaxed get-together. As the tech giants arrived, crowds instantly gathered, live-streaming the moment. Jensen Huang, with a welcoming smile, instantly bridged the gap between global celebrity and local life. He offered a simple, relatable truth about their choice of venue: “I love fried chicken and beer with my friends, so Kkanbu is a perfect place, right?”
Inside, the atmosphere was one of genuine camaraderie. Forsaking any pretense of formality, the billionaires—the men whose companies are reshaping the future of AI, consumer electronics, and mobility—tucked into classic Korean comfort food. Their feast, according to Yonhap News Agency, included cheese balls, cheese sticks, boneless chicken, and perfectly fried wings, all washed down with the crisp, local Terra beer and the quintessential Korean spirit, soju.
Local media captured a truly touching sight: the three leaders, linking arms in a traditional Korean drinking gesture. More than just a simple toast, this act is a profound cultural marker, a way to cement friendship and mutual trust. In a single, fluid motion, they underscored that their gathering was about more than just business; it was about respect, bond, and shared humanity.
Their grace extended beyond their table. Stepping outside, they engaged with the curious bystanders, sharing their meal and their joy. Jensen Huang, holding up a basket of the delicious fried chicken, exclaimed, “The chicken wings was so good. Have you been here before? It’s incredible, right?” He then offered the basket, asking, “Anyone? Fried chicken?” It was an invitation to share not just food, but the infectious happiness of the moment. Then came the crescendo of the evening—a moment of beautiful, unexpected grace.
The crowd erupted in cheers when Huang reached for and rang the restaurant’s “golden bell,” the traditional signal that he would be covering everyone’s bill. But in a charming and respectful act of one-upmanship, his companions—in the true spirit of Kkanbu friendship—took over the mantle of host. It was Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong who ultimately picked up the entire tab for the first round, while Hyundai’s Chung Eui-sun followed suit, generously paying for a second round of food and drinks for all the grateful diners.
This relaxed, heartening night out was framed against a backdrop of complex global affairs. These leaders were in Seoul for high-level diplomatic meetings, including discussions surrounding the APEC summit where leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping were also attending. Indeed, just the day after this convivial meal, Huang was set to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. At that meeting, he would announce a massive supply of over 260,000 GPUs to Korean companies and commit Nvidia to a significant partnership with Samsung, Hyundai, Naver, and SK to advance “physical AI”—technologies that merge artificial intelligence with the real world, like autonomous vehicles.
The Seoul chicken joint, however, offered a vital reminder: before the chips, before the cars, and before the summits, there is friendship, good food, and the simple, profound joy of sharing. The ringing of the golden bell that night signaled more than a cleared tab; it heralded a moment of shared community, a lesson in unexpected generosity, and the powerful, humbling truth that even the world’s wealthiest men understand the value of a close friend and a delicious basket of fried chicken.
