Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella will visit South Korea in late March to meet with top business and finance leaders here. Like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s visit last month, Nadella aims to strengthen partnerships in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.
The Microsoft chief executive will attend the Microsoft AI Tour in Seoul at the aT Center in Yangjae, Seoul on March 26. According to industry sources, Nadella is set to meet key executives, including KT CEO Kim Young-shub, LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan, HD Hyundai Executive Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun, Amorepacific Chairman Suh Kyung-bae, and Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chairman Kang Seog-hoon. Beyond IT sectors like telecommunications and home appliances, he will expand engagements into industries such as energy, finance, machinery, and beauty. A tech expert noted, “As AI becomes a core technology across industries, Microsoft is broadening its partnerships to take the lead in AI innovation.”
Under Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft has been strengthening partnerships with Korean companies. In September last year, it signed a cooperation agreement with KT, committing multi-trillion-won investments over five years to develop AI models and cloud services tailored for South Korea. In January, Microsoft also announced a strategic partnership with LG Electronics at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. An industry insider speculated that the upcoming discussions with LG Electronics may include collaboration on AI data center chillers (large-scale cooling systems).
Nadella will also deliver a keynote speech at the AI Tour event, titled “Leading in the Age of AI Transformation.” He will discuss how AI is reshaping daily life and work worldwide, including in Korea, and its impact across industries. The Microsoft AI Tour is an annual event held in 60 cities worldwide to introduce the company’s AI initiatives and expand partnerships.
