The Korea visit of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is sparking an unexpected "K-food boom" in the country's food and dining industry. In particular, walnut cakes that Huang received as a gift from a fan are drawing significant attention.
According to the distribution industry and Buchang Confectionery on Wednesday, a video of Huang receiving a box of walnut cakes from a citizen in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on Sunday is gaining popularity on social media.
At the time, Huang visited the Ganbu Chicken Samseong branch for a "chicken and beer" meeting with SK Group executives, including SK Group Chairman Tae-won Choi, SK hynix CEO and President Kwak Noh-jung, and SK hynix AI Infrastructure President Kim Ju-seon. A citizen present at the scene handed over a box of walnut cakes, describing them as "Korean traditional food," which became the starting point. Huang opened the box on the spot, checked the contents, and smiled brightly. He then shared the walnut cakes with his wife, Lori, and took a commemorative photo with the citizen who gave the gift.
The gift Huang received was reported to be walnut cakes from the brand Buchang Confectionery. The video surpassed approximately 4 million views on social media. The video has also caused a stir in Taiwan, going viral through popular local social media channels.
Buchang Confectionery, which opened in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1963, started as a neighborhood bakery but closed in the 1990s. Recently, the founder's maternal grandson has restored and is operating the brand. It expanded its presence as a local dessert by being served as an official dessert at major APEC meetings.
The gift Huang received was known to be walnut cakes from Gyeongju local brand Buchang Confectionery. The video containing the scene spread rapidly, surpassing approximately 4 million views on social media, and is also drawing attention in Taiwan as it is shared through popular local social media channels.
Buchang Confectionery is a brand that started as a neighborhood bakery in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1963. It closed once in the 1990s, but the founder's maternal grandson recently revived and is operating the brand. Since then, it has been growing its presence again as a representative regional dessert brand, including being provided as an official dessert at major APEC meetings.
Meanwhile, along with Buchang Confectionery's walnut cakes, items that Huang also received, such as Paldo Vilac Sikhye and Orion Choco Pie, are drawing significant attention. As there are many cases where the choices of famous overseas figures lead to consumption trends, the food industry believes this attention could go beyond a one-time topic and lead to enhanced brand awareness.
