(LEAD) OpenAI's Sam Altman to visit S. Korea for talks with major tech firms

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will visit South Korea from Sunday for a two-day trip to meet major tech firms, including Samsung Electronics, Naver Corp., and Kakao Corp. The visit begins Monday with a lecture at Samsung’s Suwon office on AI-driven workplace innovation, aligning with the company’s plans to integrate AI across operations. Altman previously visited South Korea in October 2025, securing letters of intent with Samsung and SK Group for global AI infrastructure partnerships. While a meeting with Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong is unlikely due to his absence, discussions with Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a will focus on expanding ChatGPT-KakaoTalk connectivity, leveraging conversational context across platforms. Later Monday, Altman will meet Naver executives at its Seongnam headquarters, potentially exploring collaborations tied to Naver’s cloud and data center infrastructure. Industry sources suggest the visit could open new avenues for AI cooperation between OpenAI and South Korea’s tech leaders. This marks Altman’s first visit to South Korea in eight months, reinforcing OpenAI’s engagement with the country’s major tech players amid rapid AI advancements.