Nvidia, Samsung chiefs bond over Korean fried chicken, lifting snack stocks

Jensen Huang’s viral meal is driving a sharp rally in South Korea’s fried chicken-related stocks.

The Nvidia CEO shared beers with Samsung Electronics Chair Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun at a local restaurant, Kkanbu Chicken, on Thursday evening.

While Kkanbu is not publicly listed, shares of rival Kyochon F&B surged as much as 20 per cent on Friday after photos and videos of the gathering circulated widely on social media.

South Korean poultry processor Cherrybro also soared by the daily limit of 30 per cent, with trading volume about 200 times its average. Neuromeka, a Kosdaq-listed company that makes chicken-frying robots, also soared.

The episode reflects how virality and memes continue to influence South Korea’s stock market, where risk-seeking traders often chase short-term gains tied to cultural, political or economic moments in the spotlight. These rallies, typically in small-cap Kosdaq stocks, are rarely driven by fundamentals and often lack any real link to company operations.

In August, shares of South Korean pen maker MonAmi surged after US leader Donald Trump praised President Lee Jae-myung’s pen during their first in-person meeting at the White House.