OpenAI Chief Returns to Seoul for Urgent Chip and Data Center Talks

OpenAI is expanding its reliance on South Korean semiconductor manufacturers to support its growing infrastructure needs. The company's chief executive, Sam Altman, traveled to the country for an unannounced weekend visit to meet with top industry figures.

Samsung Electronics announced that Altman met with approximately 50 executives from its various affiliates in Yongin, a city located south of Seoul. The group included representatives from the electronics, finance, and biotechnology sectors. The company stated that the discussions focused on artificial intelligence developments, potential business opportunities, and the technology's impact on corporate operations.

Altman also held a lunch meeting with Chey Tae-won, the chairman of SK Group. Senior executives from SK Hynix and SK Telecom attended the session. Local media reports suggest the two sides discussed cooperation on AI chips and data centers, including plans for high-bandwidth memory supplies. SK Hynix told CNBC it could not confirm the reported meeting, and participants did not provide specific details of the talks.

This visit builds on partnerships established in October 2025, when Altman met with President Lee Jae Myung and other leaders to announce collaborations under the Stargate initiative. That program aims to expand AI infrastructure globally. Under those agreements, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix committed to ramping up production of advanced memory chips. OpenAI and its partners also agreed to explore the development of AI data centers in South Korea.

OpenAI cited the country's status as a global leader in AI readiness and its public-private funding structure as reasons for strengthening its presence there. The latest trip follows a July meeting between Altman and Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee at OpenAI's headquarters in San Francisco. Altman departed South Korea on Saturday, ending the short visit.

The company continues to integrate South Korean suppliers into its supply chain for critical components. These relationships are central to the hardware required for the Stargate project.