Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Company History
Samsung History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1969 in Seoul, South Korea
When was Samsung founded?
Samsung was founded in 1969 in Seoul, South Korea by Lee Byung-chul, making it 57 years old.
- Founded
- 1969
- Founding place
- Seoul, South Korea
- Founders
- Lee Byung-chul
- Headquarters today
- Suwon, South Korea
- Milestones documented
- 11 (1938–2025)
- Current CEO
- Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1938 | Samsung Group begins |
| 1969 | Samsung Electronics established |
| 1977 | Korea Semiconductor acquired |
| 1993 | New Management initiative |
| 2010 | Galaxy S Launched |
| 2016 | Galaxy Note 7 Recall |
| 2017 | Harman acquisition closes |
| 2022 | Jong-Hee Han becomes CEO |
| 2024 | Jun Young-hyun becomes CEO |
| 2025 | TM Roh joins Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO |
| 2025 | Annual revenue reaches ~$237B (KRW 333.6T) |
- Where was Samsung founded?
- Samsung was founded in Seoul, South Korea in 1969. wikidata.org
- When was Samsung established?
- Samsung was founded in 1969.
- Where is Samsung headquartered?
- Samsung is headquartered in Suwon, South Korea.
- Who founded Samsung?
- Samsung was founded by Lee Byung-chul.
- How old is Samsung?
- Samsung is 57 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Lee Byung-chul started Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938 as a trading company dealing in dried fish, produce and noodles. After the Korean War the group moved into sugar, textiles and insurance. It created Samsung Electronics in 1969 to make black-and-white televisions. In 1983 Lee committed the company to memory chips, and by 1992 Samsung was the world's largest DRAM maker.
Founders
Lee Byung-chul
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938, trading dried fish, produce and noodles. After the Korean War he expanded into sugar refining (Cheil Jedang, 1953) and wool textiles (Cheil Industries, 1954), followed by insurance, retail and, in 1969, Samsung Electronics. In 1983 he committed the group to memory chips, the bet that later made Samsung Electronics the world's largest DRAM maker. He led the group until his death in 1987, when his son Lee Kun-hee took over. Education: Joongdong High School. Lee Byung-chul was born in 1910.
Key Milestones
Samsung Group begins
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a trading company before later generations expanded the group into electronics and industry.
Source: samsung.comSamsung Electronics established
Samsung Electronics Industry Co. Ltd. was established as the group entered electronics manufacturing.
Source: samsung.comKorea Semiconductor acquired
Samsung acquired Korea Semiconductor, a key step toward memory and component manufacturing leadership.
Source: samsung.comNew Management initiative
Lee Kun-hee launched the New Management push to raise quality, design, and global competitiveness.
Source: news.samsung.comGalaxy Note 7 Recall
Samsung recalled and then discontinued the Galaxy Note 7 in 2016 after battery fires.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHarman acquisition closes
Samsung completed the Harman acquisition, expanding into connected car systems and premium audio.
Source: news.samsung.comJong-Hee Han becomes CEO
Jong-Hee Han became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2022. A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJun Young-hyun becomes CEO
Samsung named Young Hyun Jun, head of its Device Solutions division, CEO in November 2024. He also took charge of the Memory Business and Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology.
Source: news.samsung.comTM Roh joins Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO
Samsung named TM Roh Head of Device eXperience and CEO, joining Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO.
Source: news.samsung.comAnnual revenue reaches ~$237B (KRW 333.6T)
Samsung Electronics reported ~$237 billion (KRW 333.6 trillion) in 2025 annual revenue and ~$31 billion (KRW 43.6 trillion) in operating profit.
Source: news.samsung.comMajor Acquisitions
Harman International
2017Diversify beyond phones and TVs into connected-car electronics and premium audio.
SmartThings
2014Acquire a smart home platform to connect Samsung appliances, TVs and third-party devices.
FlaktGroup
2025Samsung Electronics agreed to buy the German heating, ventilation and air-conditioning company FlaktGroup for about EUR1.5 billion (about $1.7 billion) to expand in commercial and data-centre cooling.
Xealth
2025Samsung Electronics acquired the digital-health platform Xealth, announced on July 8, 2025.
Keep researching Samsung
Samsung Company History FAQ
When and where was Samsung Electronics founded?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was established on January 13, 1969, in Suwon, South Korea, as an electronics manufacturing subsidiary of the broader Samsung Group (originally founded in 1938 by Lee Byung-chul in Daegu).
What was Samsung Electronics' original product line?
Samsung Electronics began by manufacturing black-and-white televisions (the P-3202 model), refrigerators, washing machines, and calculators, exporting its first televisions to Panama in 1971 before expanding into domestic color television broadcasting in 1977.
When did Samsung enter the semiconductor industry?
In December 1974, Samsung acquired a 50% stake in Korea Semiconductor, taking full control in 1978. In 1983, founder Lee Byung-chul made the historic "Tokyo Declaration," boldly committing massive capital to develop advanced 64K DRAM chips when critics predicted failure.
When did Samsung become the world leader in memory semiconductors?
In 1992, Samsung developed the world's first 64M DRAM chip, surpassing Japanese giants NEC, Toshiba, and Hitachi to become the #1 DRAM manufacturer in the world—a leadership position in memory semiconductors it has maintained continuously ever since.
What was Lee Kun-hee's famous "Frankfurt Declaration" in 1993?
In June 1993 in Frankfurt, Germany, Chairman Lee Kun-hee assembled hundreds of top executives, issuing the legendary management decree: "Change everything except your wife and children." He ordered a pivot from low-quality mass volume to uncompromising global quality, even burning 150,000 defective mobile phones in a factory bonfire.
When did Samsung become the world's bestselling television manufacturer?
In 2006, Samsung released the Bordeaux LCD TV, featuring a wine-glass-inspired curved silhouette that dethroned Sony, establishing Samsung as the number-one global television manufacturer—a title it has retained for over 18 consecutive years.
When did the Samsung Galaxy smartphone series launch?
In June 2010, Samsung launched the original Samsung Galaxy S running Google Android, introducing vibrant Super AMOLED display technology and establishing Samsung as Apple's primary global rival in premium smartphones.
How did Samsung overcome the Galaxy Note 7 battery crisis in 2016?
Following battery fires in late 2016 that forced a worldwide recall of millions of Galaxy Note 7 devices costing over $5 billion, Samsung instituted a rigorous 8-Point Battery Safety Check, public transparency audits, and successfully rebuilt consumer trust with the Galaxy S8 and Note 8.
What was the landmark acquisition of Harman International in 2017?
In March 2017, Samsung completed the $8.0 billion all-cash acquisition of Harman International Industries, securing iconic audio brands (JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson) and deep relationships with global automotive manufacturers for connected cockpits.
Who is Jay Y. Lee and when did he become Executive Chairman?
Jay Y. Lee (Lee Jae-yong), grandson of founder Lee Byung-chul and only son of late Chairman Lee Kun-hee, was appointed Executive Chairman of Samsung Electronics in October 2022 after serving as de facto leader following his father's incapacitation in 2014.
How did Samsung pioneer foldable smartphones?
In 2019, Samsung launched the Galaxy Fold, creating the commercial foldable smartphone category, subsequently launching the Galaxy Z Flip clamshell and pioneering ultra-thin glass (UTG) flexible display manufacturing.
What is Samsung's role in High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) for AI?
As artificial intelligence exploded in 2023-2024, Samsung accelerated development of next-generation HBM3E and HBM4 memory chips, competing intensely with SK Hynix to supply high-speed memory for NVIDIA and AMD AI GPU accelerators.
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