Samsung
From Freepedia
| Samsung | Image:SamsungLogo.gif |
|---|---|
| Hangul: | 삼성 |
| Hanja: | 三星 |
| Revised Romanization: | Samseong |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Samsŏng |
Samsung was founded in 1969 by Sam-eul Sung, and one of its subsidiaries, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is one of the largest electronics companies in the world. Founded in Daegu, South Korea, it operates in around 58 countries and has over 208,000 workers. The turnover in 2003 was about 101.7 billion USD. Samsung is recognized as being one of the top 10 brands in the world.
At present, Samsung Electronics operates in 5 business areas, namely Telecommunications (Mobile Handsets and Network), Digital and Home Appliances (including washing machines, microwave ovens, refrigerators, VHS and DVD players, etc), Digital Media, LCD, and Semiconductors.
Samsung (meaning "three stars" or "tristar" in Korean) was founded by Lee Byungchul. Samsung Electronics is the flagship division of The Samsung Group.
Samsung is one of the largest South Korean conglomerates ("chaebol"). It started as an exports company in 1938 but soon diversified.
Contents |
Subsidiaries of the Samsung Group
Electronics industries
- SAMSUNG Electronics
- SAMSUNG Electro-Mechanics
- SAMSUNG SDI
- SAMSUNG Corning
- SAMSUNG SDS
- SAMSUNG Networks
- SAMSUNG Corning Precision Glass
Machinery and heavy industries
- SAMSUNG Heavy Industries
- SAMSUNG Techwin
Chemical industries
- SAMSUNG TOTAL PETROCHEMICALS
- SAMSUNG Petrochemicals
- SAMSUNG BP chemicals
- SAMSUNG Fine Chemicals
- Cheil Industries
Financial services
- SAMSUNG Life Insurance(Korean)
- SAMSUNG Fire & Marine Insurance
- SAMSUNG Card, SAMSUNG Securities
- SAMSUNG Capital
- SAMSUNG Investment Trust Management
- SAMSUNG Venture Investment
History
1950s - 1980s
- 1953: Samsung started sugar production, which has since ended
- 1958: Samsung starts offering insurance
- 1965: A department store opened in Kwanjou.
- 1967: Samsung started the Joong-Ang Ilbo daily newspaper. Today this newspaper has no affiliation with the company.
- 1969: Samsung Electronics founded
- 1974: Samsung Petrochemical and Heavy Industries founded.
- 1976: The company was awarded an export prize by the government as a part of the country's development programme.
- 1977: As a result of their export prize, Samsung Construction emerged. In addition, Samsung Shipbuilding has formed.
- 1982: Samsung established a professional baseball team.
- 1983: Samsung produced its first computer chip: a 64k DRAM.
- Towards the end of the 1980's, Samsung pushed its efforts in petrochemicals and electronics.
The 1990s and present
The 1990s saw Samsung rise as an international corporation. Not only did it acquire a number of businesses abroad, but also began leading the way in certain electronic components. Samsung's construction branch was awarded the contract to build one of the two Petronas Towers in Malaysia in September 1993.
Samsung survived the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 relatively unharmed. It has kept expanding since then. Samsung's brand strength has improved impressively in the last few years, despite an environment of scandal and political intrigue.
Samsung is now one of the leading manufacturers in plasma displays, although it has struggled with building an image of being an innovator created by legal controversies over patent infringements with companies such as Fujitsu who claim to have created plasma display technology first. Samsung has also faced controversy in Korea for its policies towards workers, described by some as anti-worker, although such claims are widely disputed.
Samsung Electronics saw record profits and revenue in 2004, and in 2005, overtook Sony as one of the worlds most valuable brands, and is now ranked #20 in the world.
See also
- List of Korean companies
- List of Korea-related topics
- FidoBag, a hoax by Samsung
- List of digital camera brands
- Samsung Sens
- Samsung UF-80DX Digital Presenter
