1938-1969 Samsung's Beginnings

On March 1, 1938, founding chairman Byung-Chull Lee started a business in Taegu, Korea, with 30,000 won.

At the start, his business focused primarily on trade export, selling dried Korean fish, vegetables, and fruit to
Manchuria and Beijing. In little more than a decade, Samsung—which means "three stars" in Korean—would have
its own flour mills and confectionery machines, its own manufacturing and sales operations, and ultimately evolve
to become the modern global corporation that still bears the same name today.
197
• Black-and-white TV (model: P-3202) production started by Samsung-Sanyo
0
196 • Samsung-Sanyo Electronics established (renamed Samsung Electro-Mechanics in March 1975
9 and merged with Samsung Electronics in March 1977)
196
• Joong-Ang Development established (known today as Samsung Everland)
6
196
• DongBang Life Insurance acquired (renamed Samsung Life Insurance in July 1989)
3
195 • Ankuk Fire & Marine Insurance acquired (renamed Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance in October
8 1993)
195
• Cheil Industries Inc. founded
4
195
• Samsung Moolsan established (now Samsung Corporation)
1
193
• Samsung founded in Taegu, Korea
8
1970-1979 Diversifying in Industries and Electronics

In the 1970s, Samsung laid the strategic foundations for its future growth by investing in the heavy, chemical, and
petrochemical industries.
During this time, the company also took steps to enhance its competitive position in the world's textile industry,
integrating its manufacturing processes from raw materials to end products. As a result, many new companies
were created, including Samsung Heavy Industries Company in 1974 and Samsung Shipbuilding and Samsung
Precision Company (now Samsung Techwin) in 1977.
Another burst of growth for Samsung came from the burgeoning home electronics business. Samsung Electronics,
already a major manufacturer in the Korean market, began to export its products for the first time during this
period. Samsung also acquired a 50 percent stake in Korea Semiconductor, further solidifying Samsung
Electronics' position as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing.
197
• Began mass production of microwave ovens
9
197
• 4 millionth black-and-white TV (most in the world) produced
8
• Samsung Precision Co. established (now Samsung Techwin)
197 • Started export of colour televisions
7 • Samsung Fine Chemicals established
• Samsung Construction established
197
• 1 millionth black-and-white TV produced
6
197 • Samsung Heavy Industries incorporated
 • Samsung Petrochemical established
4
• Began washing machine and refrigerator production
197
• Began production of black-and-white televisions for domestic sale
2
1980-1989 Entering the Global Marketplace

Samsung's core technology businesses diversified and expanded globally during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In 1978, Samsung Semiconductor and Samsung Electronics became separate entities. Samsung Aerospace
Industries (now Samsung Techwin) was launched in February 1987, and Samsung has been developing its
aerospace capabilities with unprecedented speed ever since.
Samsung also entered the systems development business, establishing Samsung Data Systems in 1985 (now
Samsung SDS) as a leader in information technology services, including systems integration, systems
management, consulting, and networking services.
Samsung's increasing focus on technology led to the creation of the company's two research and development
(R&D) institutes that helped expand its reach even further into electronics, semiconductors, high polymer
chemicals, genetic engineering, optical telecommunications, aerospace, and new fields of technology innovation
from nanotechnology to advanced network architectures.
In 1987, Samsung's founding Chairman Byung-Chull Lee passed away after almost 50 years at the helm of the
company. His son, Kun-Hee Lee, succeeded him as the new Chairman. During this period, Samsung challenged
itself to restructure old businesses and enter new ones with the aim of becoming one of the world's top five
electronics companies.
198 • Samsung BP Chemicals founded
9 • 20 millionth colour TV produced.
198 • Samsung Semiconductor & Telecommunications Co merged with Samsung Electronics. Home
8 appliances, telecommunications, and semiconductors selected as core business lines.
198
• Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology opened for R&D purposes
7
198
• Developed the world's smallest, lightest 4mm video tape recorder
6
198 • Samsung Data Systems established (Renamed Samsung SDS)
4 • First VCRs exported to the US
198
• Began production of personal computers (PCs)
3
• Name changed from Korea Telecommunications Corp. to Samsung Semiconductor &
198 Telecommunications Co.
2 • Sales subsidiary (SEG) established in Germany
• 10 millionth black-and-white TV produced
198 • First microwave ovens (model: RE-705D) exported (to Canada)
1 • 1 millionth colour TV produced
198
• Began producing air conditioners
0
1990-1993 Competing in a Changing Tech World

The early 1990s presented tremendous challenges for high-tech businesses.

Mergers, coalitions, and buy-outs were common while competition and consolidation flourished. Companies were
pressed to rethink their technology and services offerings. Business began to flow across borders between
countries and companies. Samsung made the most of these opportunities by refocusing its business strategy to
better respond to market demands.
• Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) developed first-ever digital video disk recorder
199
(DVD-R)
3
• Samsung Electronics acquired U.S. firm HMS
• Developed mobile phone system
• Development of 250MB hard disc drive completed
• Development of world's first 64M DRAM completed
199
• Acquired Kukje Securities Co., today known as Samsung Securities Co., Ltd.
2
• 10 millionth industrial robot produced
• Began manufacturing in China
• World's first 64M DRAM completed
199 • Samsung supported installation of Korean Pavilion at the Royal Museum of England
1 • Development of mobile phone handset completed
1994-1996 Becoming a Global Force

In the mid-1990s, Samsung revolutionised its business through a dedication to making world-class products,
providing total customer satisfaction, and being a good corporate citizen – all under the vision of "quality first."
During this period, 17 different products—from semiconductors to computer monitors, TFT-LCD screens to colour
picture tubes—climbed into the ranks of the top-five products for global market share in their respective areas, and
12 others achieved top market ranking in their areas.
Being No.1 also means fulfilling corporate social obligations, whether the cause is social welfare, environmental
conservation, cultural events, or sports. To that end, Samsung actively participated in sports marketing, and as a
result of its intensive efforts, its then-chairman, Kun-Hee Lee, was selected as a member of the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) in July 1996, greatly enhancing the company's image as a key contributor to world
athletics.
• Development of 1G DRAM completed
199
• Developed world's fastest CPU (central processing unit), the Alpha chip
6
• Began mass production of 64M DRAMs
• Samsung Entertainment Group started
199
• Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology developed world's first real-time MPEG-3 technology
5
• World's first 33" double-screen TV introduced
• Samsung Heavy Industries developed first Korean-built electric car (SEV-III)
199 • Development of world's first 256M DRAM completed
4 • 30 millionth microwave oven produced
• Samsung Aerospace developed the world's first four-power zoom camera
1997-1999 Advancing the Digital Frontier

Despite the 1997 financial crisis that affected nearly all Korean businesses, Samsung was one of few companies
that continued growing, thanks to its leadership in digital and network technologies and its steady concentration on
electronics, finances and related services.

Samsung responded to the crisis by reducing the number of its affiliated companies to 45 (according to the
Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act), decreasing personnel by almost 50,000, selling 10 business units and
improving the soundness of its financial structure, lowering its 365 percent debt ratio in 1997 to 148 percent by late
1999.
199 • Samsung Aerospace (known today as Samsung Techwin), Daewoo Heavy Industries, and
9 Hyundai Space and Aircraft formed a single business entity, Korea Aerospace Industries
 • First in the world to mass-produce and offer a full line up of digital TVs
• Developed the world's first 3D TFT-LCD Monitor
• Developed wireless Internet phone (Smartphone), a small, multi-function phone
• Achieved top share of world’s TFT-LCD market
• Mass production of world's first digital TV begun
• Began mass production of the world’s first digital TV
199
• Development of completely flat-screen TV completed
8
• Served as Olympic Partner at Nagano Winter Olympics
• World's first 128M SDRAM introduced
• Developed world's first 128MB Synchronous DRAM and 128MB Flash memory
• Became a Worldwide Olympic Partner (TOP) in the wireless communications category
• Signed contract to become an Olympic Partner in wireless equipment category for Nagano Winter
Olympics
199
• Developed world's lightest PCS (105g)
7
• Developed world's largest TFT-LCD (30)
• Development of world's first 30" TFT-LCD completed
• Announced 2nd phase of New Management
2000-Present Pioneering the Digital Age

The digital age has brought revolutionary change – and opportunity – to global business, and Samsung has
responded with advanced techno-logies, competitive products, and constant innovation.
At Samsung, we see every challenge as an opportunity and believe we are perfectly positioned as one of the
world's recognised leaders in the digital technology industry.
Our commitment to being the world's best has won us the No.1 global market share for 13 of our products,
including semiconductors, TFT-LCDs, monitors and CDMA mobile phones. Looking forward, we're making historic
advances in research and development of our overall semiconductor line, including flash memory and non-
memory, custom semiconductors, DRAM and SRAM, as well as producing best-in-class LCDs, mobile phones,
digital appliances, and more.
201 • Samsung Electronics Held the 4th Samsung Young Design Award in Italy
0 • Samsung Electronics Introduced Samsung Galaxy Tab to U.S. Market
• Samsung Mobile Display developed flexible AMOLED panel with four times clearer WVGA
resolution
• Samsung Electronics honoured with 37 CES 2011 Innovation Awards
• Samsung Electronics launched OMNIA 7, the first Windows Phone 7 smartphone
• Samsung announced that it will establish seven social enterprises over the next three years to
support the underprivileged in Korea
• Samsung Electronics began mass producing 20nm-class, 64-gigabit 3-bit NAND flash memory
• Samsung Engineering won the Sabah (Malaysia) Oil & Gas Terminal Project
• Cheil Industries established the WPM (World Premier Materials) flexible display business unit
• Samsung Electronics held the WCG 2010 Samsung Euro Championship at IFA 2010
• Samsung Electronics held the “Samsung Mobile Solutions Forum 2010” in Taiwan
• Samsung’s brand value was ranked No. 19 in the world by Interbrand’s 2010 Best Global Brands
• Samsung Electronics’ 3D LED 8000 & 7000 series TVs were selected as this year’s best TVs by
product testing magazines “Which?” in UK and “Test” in Germany
• Samsung Electronics won five European EISA Awards
• Samsung Electronics introduced Samsung Galaxy Tab to U.S. market
• Samsung Electronics’ TV won “Product of the Year” Award in Russia two years in a row.
• Samsung Electronics qualified foundry industry’s first 32nm low power High-K Metal Gate Logic
 Process and Design Ecosystem
• Samsung Electronics introduced high-speed 512GB SSD utilising new toggle-mode DDR NAND
memory
• Samsung Electronics captured five 2010 IDEA awards
• Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance entered the Chinese automobile insurance market
• Samsung Electronics hosts “Samsung Global Developer’s Day” for the Bada platform
• Samsung announced that it will invest $20 billion in new projects such as in eco-friendly and
health care sectors by 2020
• Samsung Life Insurance went public with IPO in Korean Market
• Samsung Electronics launched World’s first 3D home theatre
• Samsung Electronics launched WAVE, the first smartphone based on Bada platform
• Samsung Engineering won $1.7 billion petrochemical plant contract in UAE
• Samsung Corning Precision Glass changed company name to Samsung Corning Precision
Materials
• Samsung Mobile Display developed the World’s largest 19-inch transparent AMOLED display
• Samsung Electronics merged with Samsung Digital Imaging
• Samsung Heavy Industries won $500 Million contract for nine oil tankers
• Samsung Electronics announced the industry’s first multi-chip package (MCP) with PRAM – for
use in mobile handsets
• Samsung Electronics’ Android Phone “Moment” for the U.S. won the “Best in Show” award at
2010 CTIA
• Samsung Electronics was awarded 2010 Green Communication Award
• Samsung Electronics globally launched the World’s first “Full HD 3D LED TV”
• Samsung Electronics developed industry’s first 30-nanometer-class DRAM
• Samsung Electronics opened its Olympic Rendezvous @ Samsung (OR@S) for the Vancouver
2010 Olympic Winter Games
• Samsung Electronics was ranked No. 1 in market share for French Door refrigerators in the U.S.
• Samsung Electronics committed its sponsorship with the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games
(Singapore 2010) as a Worldwide Partner
• Samsung C&T opened Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building
• Samsung SDS merged with Samsung Networks
• Samsung Electronics began mass producing industry’s first 3D TV panels
200 • Displayed the world’s thinnest TV (6.5mm) at CES
9 • Launched major restructuring of its businesses
• Cooperates in creating a foundry with Xilinx of the US
• Developed the world’s first 40 nanometre DRAM
• Announced its “Blue Earth” solar-powered phone
• Released its V-line Crystal Rose LCD TV
• Samsung is found No. 1 in customer loyalty for 8 years consecutively by Brand Keys of the USA
• Samsung Digital Imaging developed an innovative hybrid digital camera
• Built the world’s largest mobile phone as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records
• Received a “Quality Management Award” in Malaysia
• SADI, Samsung's design school, received the most iF Concept Design Awards for its entrants
• Opened “samsungmobile.com” for its domestic customers
• Received an Excellence Award from ENERGY STAR of the US
• Released the world’s thinnest Blu-ray player
• Introduced Mobile WiMax into Malaysia
• Released the world’s first full HD camcorder with a 64GB SSD
• Sold more than 20 million full touch phones in shortest time ever
• Samsung took up a record high market share in LCD monitors
• Released the world’s first solar -powered mobile phone in India
• Released the “JET,” its new concept full touch screen phone
• Released its 120Hz 3D monitor
• Samsung took the No. 1 spot in the global digital sign market for the first time
• Sold 500,000 units of its LED TVs in 100 days since its release
• Opened the “visual mobile” era with its third generation full touch Haptic AMOLED
• Released the world’s first infrared video phone
• Became the first in the industry to acquire TCO 3.0 certification for its notebook computers
• Announced its “Green Management” strategy
• Began mass production of the world’s first 40 nanometre DDR3 DRAM
• Released the world’s thinnest watch phone
• Developed the world’s lowest power 1GHz mobile CPU core
• Opened Samsung Application Store Seller Site
• Attained its most awards ever at IDEA 2009
• Released its strategic smart phone, the OmniaⅡ
• Samsung's Yuna’s Haptic sold 500,000 units in record time
• Became the first in the industry to sell more than 10 million LCD TVs in the first half of the year
• Samsung won the chairmanship of the 3GPP international standardization association
• Sold more than 5 million of its STAR full touch phones in 4 months
• Samsung’s Application Store officially opened
• Released the “Corby” full touch phone targeted at younger users
• Provided the WorldSkills Calgary 2009 Competition support
• Installed the world’s largest video wall in the US
• Released the first large capacity 16kg automatic washing machine in the domestic market
• Samsung's “Mondi” WiMax terminal receives “Best Product” at the 4G Awards
• Entered the top 10 list in the world’s top 100 global brands
• Samsung was selected as one of the top 10 global businesses in responding to climate change
• Samsung TVs took 50% of the Iranian market
• Introduced its R&D master system
• Released the “Giorgio Armani” smart phone
• Sold more than 5 million LCD panels for notebooks per month for the first in the industry
• Developed a 240Hz 3D LCD panel
• Received the 2009 LCD TV Market Leadership Award
• Deploys its brand memory card business
• Reached the world’s first LTE terminal supply agreement
• Developed the world’s thinnest 3mm LED TV panel
• Samsung successfully tested WiMax global roaming
• Samsung’s LED TV won “TV of the Year” in Britain
• Declared its “Creative Company” strategy for the next 100 years
• Passed 4 trillion won in operating profits for its 40th year of foundation
• Introduced a “Creative New Employee” hiring system
• Developed the world’s first 0.6mm 8 chip package
• Sold 10 million STAR phones in six months of its release
• Announced its open mobile platform, “bada”
 • Became the first in the industry to sell more than 4 million LCD panels for TVs per month
• Supported the hosting of the WCG final
• Launched a VIP membership program
• Sold 50 million full touch screen phones in 2 years
• Samsung's printing solutions won product of the year in the US
• Announced “bada” its own smart phone platform
• Samsung successfully commercialized its 4th generation LTE terminal
• Restructured its organization and appointed Gee-Sung Choi as its new CEO
• Sales of Samsung “Yuna Haptic” phones broke the threshold of 1 million
• Became No. 1 in the US digital TV market for the 4th consecutive year
• Named Yoon-Woo Lee as a Vice Chairman & CEO of Samsung Electronics
• Launched OMNIA phone
• Completed establishing TV manufactory in Russia Kaluga
200 • Became the official sponsor of 2010 Guangzhou Asian Game
8 • Developed the world's first 2Gb 50 NANO
• Samsung takes No. 1 spot in U.S. cellphone market
• Opened Global Brand PR Centre ‘Samsung D’light’
• No.1 Worldwide market share position for TVs achieved for the 9th quarter in a row
• No.1 worldwide market share position for TVs achieved for the seventh quarter in a row
200 • Developed the world's first 30nm-class 64Gb NAND Flash™ memory
7 • BlackJack bestowed the Best Smart Phone award at CTIA in the U.S.
• Attained No.1 worldwide market share position for LCD for the sixth year in a row
• Developed the world's first real double-sided LCD
• Developed the worlds' first 50nm 1G DRAM
200 • Unveiled 10M pixel camera phone
6 • Launched "Stealth Vacuum," a vacuum cleaner with the world's lowest level of noises
• Launched the worlds' first Blu-Ray Disc Player
• Developed 1.72"Super-Reflective LCD Screen
• Developed the largest Flexible LCD Panel
• Ranked 27th in "the World's Most Admired Company" of Fortune
200 • Released the world's first 7 mega pixel camera phone
5 • Developed the world's first OLED for 40" TV
• Became the official sponsor of Chelsea, the renowned English Premier League football club
• Developed the first-ever speech recognition phone
• Produced the first wrinkle-free steam washer
• Sold more than 20 million cellular phones in the U.S.
• Developed the world's first 60-nano 8GB NAND Flash memory chip
200 • Ranked top in mobile phone sales in Russia
4 • Released new PDP TV featuring the highest contrast ratio in the world
• Developed a 3rd Generation Optical Blu-Ray Disc Recorder
• Developed cellular phone chip for satellite DMB system
• Released 46" LCD TV for the first time in the world
• Samsung brand value ranked 25th in the world by Interbrand
200
• Ranked 5th on the "Most Admired Electronics Company" list released by the Fortune Magazine
3
• Released the first HD DVD combo
200 • Development of the 54"TFT-LCD, the largest digital TV monitor in the world
 • Launches PDP-TV, the slimmest in the world
2 • Launch of colour mobile phones in which the new concept UFB-LCD is introduced
• Launched new high-definition TFT-LCD colour cellular phone
• Ranked No. 1 of world's Top 100 IT Companies by BusinessWeek
• Unveils 16 Chord Progression Melody Phone
200
• Begins Mass Production of 512Mb Flash Memory Device
1
• Unveils Industry's First Ultra-Slim Handset
• Develops World's first 40 inch TFT-LCD
• Unveils TFT-LCD with Record-breaking Definition
• Launches PDA phone
• Samsung Olympic Games Phone selected as the official mobile phone of the Sydney 2000
Olympic Games
200 • TV Phone and Watch Phone Make Guinness Book of World Records
0 • Unveils the Worlds Fastest Graphics Memory Chip
• Samsung Electronics and Yahoo! Form Strategic Alliance
• Develops Unique All-in-one DVD Player
• Developed world's first 512Mb DRAM
• Develops The High Definition Digital TV