Cooper Hewitt says...
Samsung was founded in Korea in 1938 by Byung-Chull Lee. Originally, the company was part of the export trade industry, primarily selling Korean produce and fish. Over the past seventy years, Samsung has gradually expanded its breadth of export products. It was not until 1969 that Samsung Electronics, arguably the most well-known division of Samsung, was formed. In the 1970s, they became a formidable presence in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. It was around this time that they also unveiled new technologies related to television, washing machines, refrigerators, and microwaves. In 1987, the company created research and development institutes which allowed the company to be at the forefront of research and innovation, further securing their leading role in the electronics industry. In the 1990s, the company began developing mobile phones, proving their ability to adapt and create despite the changing and competitive marketplace. The company notes on their website that, “During [the mid-90s], 17 different products—from semiconductors to computer monitors, TFT-LCD screens to color 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.” The company remains one of the top electronics manufactures today.
