Crowds of reporters and citizens gather on a street near a Kkanbu Chicken restaurant in Seoul’s Samseong-dong on October 30, after news broke that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was meeting there with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – The fried chicken chain that hosted Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s now-famous “chimaek” (chicken and beer) gathering with Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Euisun has suddenly become one of Seoul’s hottest dining spots.
On Friday, franchise owner Yang, who runs a Kkanbu Chicken branch in central Seoul, said customer numbers had surged by at least 30 percent overnight. “Even our regulars couldn’t get a seat,” she said. “We’re so grateful that someone like Jensen Huang recognized how good our chicken is.”
Other Kkanbu franchise owners across the country reported similar spikes in sales, with delivery app Baemin listing “Kkanbu Chicken” as its top trending search term after Thursday’s dinner made headlines. One Seoul branch owner said sales rose at least 20 percent, while another reported a 50 percent jump.
Founded in 2006, Kkanbu Chicken operates 162 stores nationwide and ranks among Korea’s top ten fried chicken brands, trailing only giants like BBQ, bhc, and Kyochon. The franchise, which struggled during the pandemic, bounced back last year with 30 billion won ($22 million) in net profit, reversing losses from 2022.
Baemin said it plans to feature Kkanbu Chicken on its main app page and distribute discount coupons for takeout orders, capitalizing on the viral moment.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shares chicken and beer with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun at a restaurant in Seoul’s Samseong-dong on October 30. (Yonhap)
Huang’s evening also gave other Korean brands unexpected global attention. During his dinner, the Nvidia chief enjoyed a “so-maek” (soju and beer mix) made with Hite Jinro’s Terra beer and Chamisul soju and later handed out Binggrae’s signature Banana Flavored Milk to bystanders.
Hite Jinro said it would use Huang’s praise of the “tasty” so-maek to promote the “Tesla” combo—short for Terra and Chamisul—to overseas markets. Binggrae also said it would leverage the viral moment to expand exports of its iconic yellow milk, already popular among foreign tourists.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
