When a war broke out between China and Japan, Lee was forced to move his business to Taegu in northeastern Korea, hometown of the political in the military regimes.
He established the Samsung General Store exporting dried fruits, dried seafood and general merchandise to Manchuria in northeast mainland China, which at that time was also a Japanese colony.
Lee expanded the business with a sugar-refining company, a wool-textile subsidiary, and a couple of insurance business.
In 1969, Samsung Electronics Company was established. In the 1970s, Samsung particularly strengthened its electronics and semiconductor business. The founding of Samsung Electronics highlighted the group’s participation in state led growth, international technology transfer and trade.
A Samsung washing machine became a runaway seller after ads portrayed a young wife pleasing her husband with clean laundry. The message was that even in Korea’s patriarchal society, a woman could control her man by using a Samsung products.
When Samsung, in 2004, was ranked as the world’s 21st most valuable brand, it was acknowledgement of its global presence.
Samsung Company
