OpenAI has shifted its latest Stargate project to Korean companies, signing a massive chip deal with global memory manufacturers SK Hynix and Samsung.

This collaboration aims to secure high-bandwidth memory supply for the $400 billion Stargate AI infrastructure project. It is estimated that this four-year deal will generate over 100 trillion won (approximately $713 billion) in revenue for the South Korean chip manufacturer.

The two companies stated that their goal is to achieve a monthly production capacity of 900,000 DRAM wafers—more than double the current global HBM production capacity.

OpenAI stated, “These collaborations will focus on increasing the supply of advanced memory chips required for next-generation AI and expanding data center capacity in South Korea.”

OpenAI added that these collaborations will also position Samsung and SK as key contributors to global AI infrastructure, supporting South Korea’s ambition to become one of the top three AI nations worldwide.

The stock price of SK Hynix, the world’s largest HBM chip manufacturer, rose 12% on news of orders, reaching a 20-year high and ultimately closing up 10%.

As the AI spending boom continues to drive global chip stocks higher, Samsung Electronics rose 3.5%, pushing the South Korean Kospi index to a record high.

TSMC Meeting

In addition, OpenAI has agreed to collaborate with SK Telecom on potential artificial intelligence data center projects.

SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won stated that the group will generate synergies across its AI-related businesses—memory chips, data centers, energy, and networks.

After signing a supply agreement in Seoul, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman flew to Taipei, where he reportedly held low-profile meetings with chip manufacturer TSMC and Foxconn’s parent company Hon Hai. The company made no public announcement.

Before news of the HBM supply agreement with South Korea broke, earlier reports had indicated that OpenAI and NVIDIA had established an investment partnership. Under this arrangement, NVIDIA pledged to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, while OpenAI committed to deploying up to 10GW of data center chips.

Earlier, OpenAI and its partners SoftBank and Oracle also announced detailed plans for five new Stargate data center sites, bringing the total committed investment over the next three years to $400 billion.