Samsung vs SK Hynix: Founders, CEOs and History
Samsung was founded in 1969 by Lee Byung-chul and is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon. SK Hynix was founded in 1983 by Chung Ju-yung and is led by Kwak Noh-jung.
Company facts
Founders
Samsung
Lee Byung-chul
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938, trading dried fish, produce and noodles.
SK Hynix
Chung Ju-yung
Chung Ju-yung (1915-2001) founded Hyundai Group and, in 1983, set up Hyundai Electronics Industries to enter the semiconductor business. That company became Hynix in 2001 and SK hynix in 2012.
CEOs and their tenures
Samsung
- Jong-Hee Han2022–2025
Vice Chairman and CEO
A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand. He died suddenly in March 2025 while in office.
Source - Jay Y. Lee2022–present
Executive Chairman
Grandson of the founder and son of Lee Kun-hee. He was convicted in the 2017 bribery case and pardoned in 2022, and became Executive Chairman in October 2022. In 2025 the Supreme Court upheld his acquittal in the separate merger and accounting fraud case.
Source - Jun Young-hyun2024–present
Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device Solutions
Head of the semiconductor (Device Solutions) division and memory business; sole CEO for part of 2025 after Han Jong-hee's death, then co-CEO with TM Roh from November 2025.
Source - Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh)2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device eXperience
Longtime head of the mobile business. Acting head of the Device eXperience division after Han Jong-hee died in March 2025, and formally named co-CEO in November 2025.
Source
SK Hynix
- Chey Tae-won2012–present
Chairman, SK Group
Chey led SK's 2012 acquisition of Hynix and rang the Nasdaq opening bell at the July 10, 2026 ADR listing.
Source - Lee Seok-hee2018–2022
Former Chief Executive Officer
Lee was CEO from 2018 to 2022 and oversaw the $9 billion Intel NAND acquisition that created Solidigm.
Source - Kwak Noh-jung2022–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kwak joined Hyundai Electronics in 1994 and became CEO in March 2022. He led the company through the 2023 downturn, the HBM3E and HBM4 ramps, FY2025 revenue of ~$69B (KRW 97.15T), and the July 2026 Nasdaq ADR listing.
Source
Timeline: Samsung and SK Hynix side by side
1938Samsung
Samsung Group begins
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a trading company before later generations expanded the group into electronics and industry.
1969Samsung
Samsung Electronics established
Samsung Electronics Industry Co. Ltd. was established as the group entered electronics manufacturing.
1977Samsung
Korea Semiconductor acquired
Samsung acquired Korea Semiconductor, a key step toward memory and component manufacturing leadership.
1983SK Hynix
Hyundai Electronics Founded
Hyundai Group establishes Hyundai Electronics in Icheon, South Korea, entering the semiconductor memory market with DRAM manufacturing capabilities.
1992SK Hynix
First 64Mb DRAM Chip
Hyundai Electronics becomes one of the first companies globally to develop a 64Mb DRAM chip, establishing its position as a high-quality memory manufacturer.
1993Samsung
New Management initiative
Lee Kun-hee launched the New Management push to raise quality, design, and global competitiveness.
2001SK Hynix
Renamed Hynix Semiconductor
Following Hyundai Group's financial restructuring, the semiconductor unit is renamed Hynix Semiconductor and undergoes creditor-led turnaround.
2012SK Hynix
SK Group Acquisition
SK Group acquires a controlling stake in Hynix Semiconductor for approximately $3.4 billion, renaming it SK Hynix Inc. and integrating it into the SK conglomerate.
2017Samsung
Harman acquisition closes
Samsung completed the Harman acquisition, expanding into connected car systems and premium audio.
2020SK Hynix
Intel NAND Business Acquisition
SK Hynix announces acquisition of Intel's NAND flash memory and SSD business for $9 billion, significantly expanding its NAND market share.
2023SK Hynix
HBM3 Mass Production for NVIDIA
SK Hynix becomes the first company to mass-produce HBM3 high-bandwidth memory, securing NVIDIA as a primary customer for AI accelerator applications.
2024SK Hynix
FY2024 Memory-Cycle Recovery
SK hynix reported ~$47B (KRW 66.19T) of FY2024 revenue as HBM demand and DRAM price recovery returned it to a ~$14.1B (KRW 19.79T) net profit after the 2023 loss.
2025Samsung
TM 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.
2025Samsung
Annual 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.
2026SK Hynix
SK hynix posts record FY2025 and Q1 2026 AI-memory results
SK hynix reported FY2025 revenue of ~$69B (KRW 97.1467T) and followed with Q1 2026 revenue of ~$37.3B (KRW 52.5763T) as AI memory demand accelerated.
2026SK Hynix
Nasdaq ADR listing and record Q2
SK hynix listed ADRs on Nasdaq on July 10, 2026, then reported record Q2 revenue of ~$56.3B (KRW 79.32T) and a 76% operating margin.
Acquisitions
SK Hynix
- Key Foundry2022Undisclosed
- Intel NAND and Solidigm2020$9B
- LG Semiconductor1999Undisclosed
Questions about Samsung vs SK Hynix
Who is the CEO of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and SK Hynix Inc.?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon and SK Hynix Inc. is led by Kwak Noh-jung. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. founded vs SK Hynix Inc.?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded in 1969 — 14 years before SK Hynix Inc., which was founded in 1983. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger SK Hynix Inc..
How many employees does Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. have compared to SK Hynix Inc.?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. employs approximately 259,149 people, while SK Hynix Inc. employs approximately 46,863. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 259,149 employees, compared to SK Hynix Inc.'s 46,863. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and SK Hynix Inc. headquartered?
Both Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and SK Hynix Inc. are headquartered in South Korea, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and SK Hynix Inc.?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded by Lee Byung-chul. SK Hynix Inc. was founded by Chung Ju-yung.
Which company has a longer operating history — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. or SK Hynix Inc.?
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has been operating for approximately 57 years, making it the more established of the two companies. SK Hynix Inc. has been in operation for around 43 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Samsung vs SK Hynix overview