South Korea AI chip ambitions gained momentum as Samsung and SK forged new partnerships with OpenAI. Sam Altman visited Seoul and secured strategic agreements that expand Korea’s role in next-generation artificial intelligence development.
Samsung signed a letter of intent with OpenAI to collaborate on global AI infrastructure. The ceremony took place at Samsung Electronics’ Seoul headquarters. Leaders from multiple Samsung subsidiaries, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Heavy Industries, Samsung C&T, and Samsung SDS, joined the event.
Samsung Electronics committed to supplying high-performance, low-power memory for OpenAI’s Stargate Project. The company projected demand for up to 900,000 wafers of high-performance DRAM each month. This agreement strengthens Samsung’s strategic position as a reliable supplier in the AI era.
Moreover, Samsung SDS will work with OpenAI to design and operate advanced AI data centers. Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries will study offshore floating data centers. These facilities promise scalable growth, higher cooling efficiency, and lower carbon emissions compared to traditional land-based sites.
“Through this partnership with OpenAI, we will secure Korea’s place among the world’s top AI leaders,” a Samsung executive stated.
Meanwhile, SK Group also signed agreements with OpenAI. Also, Chair Chey Tae-won confirmed cooperation on memory supply and a memorandum to build a new AI data center in southwestern Korea.
SK hynix, the nation’s second-largest chipmaker, agreed to supply high-bandwidth memory for the Stargate Project. The company also aims to produce up to 900,000 wafers monthly. SK hynix will align production with OpenAI’s accelerator deployment needs to support global expansion.
Additionally, SK Telecom partnered with OpenAI to establish a major AI data center in Korea’s southwest. This facility will complement SK’s existing data center in Ulsan. Together, they will form a nationwide “AI belt” to balance regional growth and speed up AI adoption.
SK emphasized that this cooperation strengthens Korea-US ties in advanced technology. The partnership blends Korea’s manufacturing expertise with America’s leadership in artificial intelligence. An SK official noted that the collaboration represents “a full-cycle journey from chip development to data center operation.”
South Korea’s government also demonstrated strong support for this vision. Leaders met with Sam Altman, Samsung executives, and SK chiefs to affirm national commitment. The government pledged a massive growth fund to elevate the nation into the world’s top three AI powers, joining the US and China.
Overall, South Korea AI chip leadership is rapidly becoming central to global competition. With Samsung and SK aligning with OpenAI, Korea now stands at the core of the global AI ecosystem.
