Samsung
Samsung is a South Korean multinational conglomerate headquartered in Suwon, South Korea, and one of the world's largest producers of consumer and industrial electronics. Founded on March 1, 1938 by Lee Byung-Chull as a grocery trading store in Daegu[^c1], the company grew under the chaebol system to become Korea's largest business group. Samsung entered the electronics industry in 1969, initially producing black-and-white televisions, and later expanded into semiconductors, mobile phones, displays, and home appliances.
In the twenty-first century, Samsung became the world's largest manufacturer of smartphones, smart TVs, and memory chips[^c2]. In fiscal year 2024, the company reported annual revenue of KRW 300.9 trillion and reclaimed the top position in the global semiconductor market with $66.5 billion in sales[^c3][^c4]. In 2026, Samsung formalized its AI growth strategy around three pillars — semiconductors, devices, and robotics — positioning itself as a comprehensive AI solutions provider[^c5]. At the same time, Samsung has faced significant legal and labor challenges, including a landmark patent war with Apple, the bribery conviction of heir [[Samsung Corporate Leadership|Lee Jae-yong]], child labor allegations in its supply chain, and escalating union disputes. Its semiconductor division has struggled in the AI chip market against rival SK hynix, and its foundry business has contended with persistent yield problems in advanced process nodes.