OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will visit South Korea on Tuesday.
Since his last visit in January 2024, Altman has been returning to Korea after about a year. As part of a global tour to discuss strategies and attract investments from major countries, there is significant interest in whether topics such as establishing a South Korean branch and investing in AI data centers will be discussed.
Industry sources revealed on Monday that OpenAI plans to host a developer event called Builder Lab in Seoul on Tuesday. Altman will attend this private event, bringing together about 100 representatives from major corporations and startups. OpenAI developers will lead technical workshops during the gathering. The exact location and time have not been disclosed.
Another focal point of Altman’s visit is his potential meetings with Korean business leaders. While his schedule is kept under wraps, it is speculated that he may meet with prominent figures such as Lee Jae Yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Chey Tae Won, chairman of SK Group.
The establishment of a Korean branch is also drawing attention. OpenAI launched its first Asian office in Tokyo last April, followed by an Asia-Pacific branch in Singapore. Some have suggested that a Korean office could be on the horizon this year.
Meanwhile, according to international media reports, Altman will visit New Delhi on Thursday and Berlin on Friday. He is scheduled to participate in the AI Action Summit in France on February 10 and the World Government Summit (WGS) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 12.
