Huang’s Nvidia exit and Lutnick’s precarious position raise stakes for Seoul



Analysis Huang’s Nvidia exit and Lutnick’s precarious position raise stakes for Seoul Uncertainty over chip giant’s future come as commerce secretary’s woes risk affecting Korean chip plants in China John LeeNovember 13, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Then Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks at the White House during an “Investing in America” event while standing next to President Donald Trump, April 30, 2025 \| Image: White House via Flickr Jensen Huang’s resignation as Nvidia chief executive has cast uncertainty over South Korea’s AI partnerships, just as mounting scrutiny of U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick threatens to reshape the export controls, tariff decisions and investment commitments affecting Seoul’s semiconductor industry. Nvidia announced Thursday that Huang had left immediately after 33 years leading the company, naming finance chief Colette Kress interim CEO. His departure followed revelations of an extramarital affair with Alice Huang, a businesswoman U.S. authorities suspect of working for Chinese intelligence. Those allegations remain unproven, with no established public evidence of compromised technology. Meanwhile, Reuters reportedthat senior © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Inside the Seoul circle using Lee’s Arctic push to bring Russia in from the cold 02AI deepfakes of North Korean troops expose South Korea’s crisis response risks 03Democratic Congress could protect US troops while delaying Seoul’s defense goals 04South Korea’s DMZ access push puts UN Command’s armistice powers to the test 05Korea Foundation’s US office registers under FARA, then terminates filing 06South Korea moves to incentivize marriage, but neglects issues facing the unwed 07North Korea’s cluster warheads put South Korea’s wartime resilience to test 08Seoul’s $350B US investment pledge faces a second set of rules in Congress

Analysis

Huang’s Nvidia exit and Lutnick’s precarious position raise stakes for Seoul

Uncertainty over chip giant’s future come as commerce secretary’s woes risk affecting Korean chip plants in China

John LeeNovember 13, 2026

Huang’s Nvidia exit and Lutnick’s precarious position raise stakes for Seoul

Then Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks at the White House during an “Investing in America” event while standing next to President Donald Trump, April 30, 2025 | Image: White House via Flickr

Jensen Huang’s resignation as Nvidia chief executive has cast uncertainty over South Korea’s AI partnerships, just as mounting scrutiny of U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick threatens to reshape the export controls, tariff decisions and investment commitments affecting Seoul’s semiconductor industry.

Nvidia announced Thursday that Huang had left immediately after 33 years leading the company, naming finance chief Colette Kress interim CEO. His departure followed revelations of an extramarital affair with Alice Huang, a businesswoman U.S. authorities suspect of working for Chinese intelligence.

Those allegations remain unproven, with no established public evidence of compromised technology.

Meanwhile, Reuters reportedthat senior

Huang’s Nvidia exit and Lutnick’s precarious position raise stakes for Seoul

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John Lee