In 1938, Lee Byung-chul opened a small grocery shop in Su-dong, Korea (now Ingyo-dong, South Korea). The store sold dried fish, noodles, and produce, and also traded goods across the country. 

He named it “Samsung,” meaning “Three Stars” in Korean, a symbol of greatness and longevity. 

Over the next few decades, the company expanded into textiles, insurance, and eventually electronics,  transforming from a modest local shop into one of the world’s most influential technology companies.

Samsung's current market value as of August 2025 is approximately $336 billion.