Samsung Group (Hangul Korean pronunciation: [sʰamsʰʌŋ ɡɯɾup], stylized as SΛMSUNG) is a South Korean multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul. It comprises numerous subsidiaries and affiliated businesses, most of them united under the Samsung brand, and is the largest South Koreanchaebol (business conglomerate).
Samsung was founded by Lee Byung-chul in 1938 as a trading company. Over the next three decades the group diversified into areas including food processing, textiles, insurance, securities and retail. Samsung entered theelectronics industry in the late 1960s and the construction and shipbuilding industries in the mid-1970s; these areas would drive its subsequent growth. Following Lee's death in 1987, Samsung was separated into four business groups – Samsung Group, Shinsegae Group, CJ Group and Hansol Group. Since the 1990s Samsung has increasingly globalized its activities, and electronics, particularly mobile phones and semiconductors, have become its most important source of income.
Notable Samsung industrial subsidiaries include Samsung Electronics (the world's largest information technology company measured by 2012 revenues, and 4th in market value),[2] Samsung Heavy Industries (the world's 2nd-largestshipbuilder measured by 2010 revenues),[3] and Samsung Engineering and Samsung C&T (respectively the world's 13th and 36th-largest construction companies).[4] Other notable subsidiaries include Samsung Life Insurance (the world's 14th-largest life insurance company),[5] Samsung Everland (operator of Everland Resort, the oldest theme parkin South Korea),[6] Samsung Techwin (an aerospace, surveillance and defense company) and Cheil Worldwide (the world's 15th-largest advertising agency measured by 2012 revenues).[7][8]
Samsung has a powerful influence on South Korea's economic development, politics, media and culture, and has been a major driving force behind the "Miracle on the Han River".[9][10] Its affiliate companies produce around a fifth of South Korea's total exports.[11] Samsung's revenue was equal to 17% of South Korea's $1,082 billion GDP.[12]
In 2013, Samsung began construction on building the world's largest mobile phone factory in the Thai Nguyen province of Vietnam
Name[edit]
According to the founder of Samsung Group, the meaning of the Korean hanja word Samsung (三星) is "tristar" or "three stars". The word "three" represents something "big, numerous and powerful"; the "stars" mean eternity
History[edit]
1938 to 1970[edit]
In 1938, Lee Byung-chull (1910–1987) of a large landowning family in the Uiryeong county came to the nearby Daegucity and founded Samsung Sanghoe (삼성상회, 三星商會), a small trading company with forty employees located in Su-dong (now Ingyo-dong).[15] It dealt in groceries produced in and around the city and produced its own noodles. The company prospered and Lee moved its head office to Seoul in 1947. When the Korean War broke out, however, he was forced to leave Seoul and started a sugar refinery in Busan named Cheil Jedang. After the war, in 1954, Lee foundedCheil Mojik and built the plant in Chimsan-dong, Daegu. It was the largest woolen mill ever in the country and the company took on the aspect of a major company.
Samsung diversified into many areas and Lee sought to help establish Samsung as an industry leader in a wide range of enterprises, moving into businesses such as insurance, securities, and retail. President Park Chung Hee placed great importance on industrialization, and focused his economic development strategy on a handful of large domestic conglomerates, protecting them from competition and assisting them financially.[16]
In 1947, Cho Hong-jai (the Hyosung group’s founder) jointly invested in a new company called Samsung Mulsan Gongsa (삼성물산공사), or the Samsung Trading Corporation, with the Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chull. The trading firm grew to become the present-day Samsung C&T Corporation. But after some years Cho and Lee separated due to differences in management between them. He wanted to get up to a 30% group share. After settlement, Samsung Group was separated into Samsung Group and Hyosung Group, Hankook Tire, and others.[17][18]
In the late 1960s, Samsung Group entered into the electronics industry. It formed several electronics-related divisions, such as Samsung Electronics Devices, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Corning, and Samsung Semiconductor & Telecommunications, and made the facility in Suwon. Its first product was a black-and-white television set.
1970 to 1990[edit]
In 1980, Samsung acquired the Gumi-based Hanguk Jeonja Tongsin and entered the telecommunications hardware industry. Its early products were switchboards. The facility were developed into the telephone and fax manufacturing systems and became the center of Samsung's mobile phone manufacturing. They have produced over 800 million mobile phones to date.[20] The company grouped them together under Samsung Electronics in the 1980s.
After Lee, the founder's death in 1987, Samsung Group was separated into four business groups—Samsung Group, Shinsegae Group, CJ Group, and the Hansol Group.[21] Shinsegae (discount store, department store) was originally part of Samsung Group, separated in the 1990s from the Samsung Group along with CJ Group (Food/Chemicals/Entertainment/logistics) and the Hansol Group (Paper/Telecom). Today these separated groups are independent and they are not part of or connected to the Samsung Group.[22] One Hansol Group representative said, "Only people ignorant of the laws governing the business world could believe something so absurd", adding, "When Hansol separated from the Samsung Group in 1991, it severed all payment guarantees and share-holding ties with Samsung affiliates." One Hansol Group source asserted, "Hansol, Shinsegae, and CJ have been under independent management since their respective separations from the Samsung Group". One Shinsegae department store executive director said, "Shinsegae has no payment guarantees associated with the Samsung Group".[22]
In the 1980s, Samsung Electronics began to invest heavily in research and development, investments that were pivotal in pushing the company to the forefront of the global electronics industry. In 1982, it built a television assembly plant in Portugal; in 1984, a plant in New York; in 1985, a plant in Tokyo; in 1987, a facility inEngland; and another facility in Austin, Texas, in 1996. As of 2012, Samsung has invested more than US$13 billion in the Austin facility, which operates under the name Samsung Austin Semiconductor. This makes the Austin location the largest foreign investment in Texas and one of the largest single foreign investments in theUnited States.[23][24]
1990 to 2000[edit]
Samsung started to rise as an international corporation in the 1990s. Samsung's construction branch was awarded a contract to build one of the two Petronas Towers in Malaysia, Taipei 101 in Taiwan and the Burj Khalifa in United Arab Emirates.[25] In 1993, Lee Kun-hee sold off ten of Samsung Group's subsidiaries, downsized the company, and merged other operations to concentrate on three industries: electronics, engineering, and chemicals. In 1996, the Samsung Group reacquired the Sungkyunkwan University foundation.
Samsung became the largest producer of memory chips in the world in 1992, and is the world's second-largest chipmaker after Intel (see Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Market Share Ranking Year by Year).[26] In 1995, it created its first liquid-crystal display screen. Ten years later, Samsung grew to be the world's largest manufacturer of liquid-crystal display panels. Sony, which had not invested in large-size TFT-LCDs, contacted Samsung to cooperate, and, in 2006, S-LCDwas established as a joint venture between Samsung and Sony in order to provide a stable supply of LCD panels for both manufacturers. S-LCD was owned by Samsung (50% plus one share) and Sony (50% minus one share) and operates its factories and facilities in Tangjung, South Korea. As of 26 December 2011 it was announced that Samsung had acquired the stake of Sony in this joint venture.[27]
Compared to other major Korean companies, Samsung survived the 1997 Asian financial crisis relatively unharmed. However, Samsung Motor was sold to Renault at a significant loss. As of 2010, Renault Samsung is 80.1 percent owned by Renault and 19.9 percent owned by Samsung. Additionally, Samsung manufactured a range of aircraft from the 1980s to 1990s. The company was founded in 1999 as Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the result of merger between then three domestic major aerospace divisions of Samsung Aerospace, Daewoo Heavy Industries, and Hyundai Space and Aircraft Company. However, Samsung still manufactures aircraft engines and gas turbines. [28]
2000 to 2013[edit]
In 2000, Samsung opened a computer programming laboratory in Warsaw, Poland. Its work began with set-top-box technology before moving into digital TV and smartphones. As of 2011, the Warsaw base is Samsung's most importantR&D center in Europe, forecast to be recruiting 400 new-hires per year by the end of 2013.[29]
In 2001 Samsung Techwin became the sole supplier of a combustor module for the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 used by theAirbus A380, the world's largest passenger airliner.[30] Samsung Techwin is also a revenue-sharing participant in theBoeing's 787 Dreamliner GEnx engine program.[31]
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In 2010, Samsung announced a ten-year growth strategy centered around five businesses.[32] One of these businesses was to be focused on biopharmaceuticals, to which the company has committed ₩2.1 trillion.[33]
In the first quarter of 2012, Samsung Electronics became the world's largest mobile phone maker by unit sales, overtaking Nokia, which had been the market leader since 1998.[35][36] In the August 21 edition of the Austin American-Statesman, Samsung confirmed plans to spend 3 to 4 billion dollars converting half of its Austin chip manufacturing plant to a more profitable chip.[37] The conversion should start in early 2013 with production on line by the end of 2013. On March 14, 2013, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S4.
On 24 August 2012, nine American jurors ruled that Samsung had to pay Apple$1.05 billion in damages for violating six of its patents on smartphonetechnology. The award was still less than the $2.5 billion requested by Apple. The decision also ruled that Apple did not violate five Samsung patents cited in the case.[38] Samsung decried the decision saying that the move could harm innovation in the sector.[39] It also followed a South Korean ruling stating that both companies were guilty of infringing on each other's intellectual property.[40]In the first trading after the ruling, Samsung shares on the Kospi index fell 7.7%, the largest fall since October 24, 2008, to 1,177,000 Korean won.[41] Apple then sought to ban the sales of eight Samsung phones (Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S2 AT&T, Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, Galaxy S2 T-Mobile, Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and Galaxy Prevail) in the United States[42] which has been denied by the court.[43]
On 4 September 2012, Samsung announced that it plans to examine all of its Chinese suppliers for possible violations of labor policies. The company said it will carry out audits of 250 Chinese companies that are its exclusive suppliers to see if children under the age of 16 are being used in their factories.[44]
In 2013 a New Zealand news outlet reported a number of Samsung washing machines spontaneously catching on fire.[45] The corporation is expected to spend $14 billion on advertising and marketing in 2013, with publicity appearing in TV and cinema ads, on billboards, and at sports and arts events. In November 2013, the corporation was valued at $227 billion.[46]
Acquisitions and attempted acquisitions[edit]
Samsung has made the following acquisitions and attempted acquisitions:[47]
- Rollei – Swiss watch battle
- Samsung Techwin acquired a German camera-maker Rollei in 1995. Samsung (Rollei) used its optic expertise on the crystals of a new line of 100% Swiss-made watches, designed by a team of watchmakers at Nouvelle Piquerez S.A. in Bassequort, Switzerland. Rolex's decision to fight Rollei on every front stemmed from the close resemblance between the two names and fears that its sales would suffer as a consequence. In the face of such a threat, the Geneva firm decided to confront. This was also a demonstration of the Swiss watch industry's determination to defend itself when an established brand is threatened. Rolex sees this front-line battle as vital for the entire Swiss watch industry. Rolex has succeeded in keeping Rollei out of the German market. On March 11, 1995, the CologneDistrict court prohibited the advertising and sale of Rollei watches on German territory.[48][49]
- Fokker, a Dutch aircraft maker
- Samsung lost a chance to revive its failed bid to take over Dutch aircraft maker Fokker when other airplane makers rejected its offer to form a consortium. The three proposed partners—Hyundai, Hanjin, and Daewoo—notified the South Korean government that they would not join Samsung Aerospace Industries.[50]
- AST Research
- Samsung bought AST (1994) and tried to break into North America, but the effort was unsuccessful. Samsung was forced to close the California-based computer maker following mass defection of research staff and a string of losses.[51]
- FUBU clothing and apparel
- In 1992, Daymond John had started the company with a hat collection that was made in his house in the Queens area of New York City. To fund the company, John had to mortgage his house for $100,000. With his friends J. Alexander Martin, Carl Brown, and Keith Perrin, half of his house was turned into the first factory of FUBU, while the other half remained as the living quarters. Along with the expansion of FUBU, Samsung invested in FUBU in 1995.[52]
- Lehman Brothers Holdings’ Asian operations
- Samsung Securities was one of a handful of brokerages looking into Lehman Brothers Holdings. But Nomura Holdings has reportedly waved the biggest check to win its bid for Lehman Brothers Holdings’ Asian operations, beating out Samsung Securities, Standard Chartered, and Barclays.[53] Ironically, after few months Samsung Securities Co., Ltd. and City of London-based N M Rothschild & Sons (more commonly known simply as Rothschild) have agreed to form a strategic alliance in investment banking business. Two parties will jointly work on cross border mergers and acquisition deals.[54]
- MEDISON Co.,Ltd. – Ultrasound Monitors
- In December 2010, Samsung Electronics bought MEDISON Co., a South Korean medical-equipment company, the first step in a long-discussed plan to diversify from consumer electronics.[55]
- Grandis Inc. – memory developer
- In July 2011, Samsung announced that it had acquired spin-transfer torque random access memory (MRAM) vendor Grandis Inc.[56] Grandis will become a part of Samsung's R&D operations and will focus on development of next generation random-access memory.[57]
- Samsung and Sony joint venture – LCD display
- On December 26, 2011 the board of Samsung Electronics approved a plan to buy Sony's entire stake in their 2004 joint liquid crystal display (LCD) venture for 1.08 trillion won ($938.97 million).[58]
- mSpot, Inc – Music Service
- On May 9, 2012, mSpot announced that it had been acquired by Samsung Electronics with the intention of a cloud based music service.[59] The succeeding service was Samsung Music Hub.
- NVELO, Inc. – Cache Software Developer
- In December 2012, Samsung announced that it had acquired the privately held storage software vendor NVELO, Inc., based in Santa Clara, California.[60]NVELO will become part of Samsung's R&D operations, and will focus on software for intelligently managing and optimizing next-generation Samsung SSD storage subsystems for consumer and enterprise computing platforms.
- NeuroLogica – Portable CT scanner
- In January 2013, Samsung announced that it has acquired medical imaging company NeuroLogica, part of the multinational conglomerate’s plans to build a leading medical technology business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.[61]
Operations[edit]
Samsung comprises around 80 companies.[63] It is highly diversified, with activities in areas including construction,consumer electronics, financial services, shipbuilding, and medical services.[63]
In FY 2009, Samsung reported consolidated revenues of 220 trillion KRW ($172.5 billion). In FY 2010, Samsung reported consolidated revenues of 280 trillion KRW ($258 billion), and profits of 30 trillion KRW ($27.6 billion) (based upon a KRW-USD exchange rate of 1,084.5 KRW per USD, the spot rate as of 19 August 2011).[64]However, it should be noted that these amounts do not include the revenues from all of Samsung's subsidiaries based outside South Korea.[65]
Subsidiaries and affiliates[edit]
As of April 2011 the Samsung Group comprised 59 unlisted companies and 19 listed companies, all of which had their primary listing on the Korea Exchange.[66]
Principal subsidiary and affiliate companies of Samsung include:
Ace Digitech[edit]
Ace Digitech is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 036550).
Cheil Industries[edit]
Cheil Industries is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 001300).
Cheil Worldwide[edit]
Cheil Worldwide is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 030000).
Credu[edit]
Credu is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 067280).
Imarket Korea[edit]
Imarket Korea is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 122900).
Samsung Card[edit]
Samsung Card is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 029780).
Samsung SDS[edit]
Main article: Samsung SDS
Samsung SDS is a multinational IT Service company headquartered in Seoul. It was founded in March 1985. Its principal activity is the providing IT system(ERP, IT Infrastructure, IT Consulting, IT Outsourcing, Data Center). Samsung SDS is the Korea's largest IT service company. It achieved total revenues of 6,105.9 billion won (US$5.71 billion) in 2012.
Samsung C&T Corporation[edit]
Samsung C&T Corporation is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (000830).
Samsung Electro-Mechanics[edit]
Samsung Electro-Mechanics, established in 1973 as a manufacturer of key electronic components, is headquartered inSuwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 009150).[67]
Samsung Electronics[edit]
Main article: Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics is a multinational electronics and information technology company headquartered in Suwon and the flagship company of the Samsung Group.[68] Its products include air conditioners, computers, digital televisions, liquid crystal displays (including thin film transistors (TFTs) and active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes (AMOLEDs)), mobile phones, monitors, printers, refrigerators, semiconductors, and telecommunications networking equipment.[69] It is the world's largest mobile phone maker by unit sales in the first quarter of 2012, with a global market share of 25.4%.[70] It is also the world's second-largest semiconductor maker by 2011 revenues (after Intel).[71]
Samsung Electronics is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 005930).
Samsung Engineering[edit]
Main article: Samsung Engineering
Samsung Engineering is a multinational construction company headquartered in Seoul. It was founded in January 1969. Its principal activity is the construction of oil refining plants; upstream oil and gas facilities; petrochemical plants and gas plants; steel making plants; power plants; water treatment facilities; and other infrastructure.[72] It achieved total revenues of 9,298.2 billion won (US$8.06 billion) in 2011.[73]
Samsung Engineering is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 02803450).
Samsung Everland[edit]
Samsung Everland engages in an array of services closely associated with the day-to-day lives and business operations of its customers. Its business scope covers the three main sectors of Environment & Asset, Food Culture, and Resort.
Since its inception in 1963 and the launch of theme park "Everland" in 1976, Samsung Everland has steadily built its presence across the markets of golf, building management, food and beverage, energy, and environment. Through this process, Samsung Everland has managed to achieve its current market standing. As a corporation trusted by the local community and renowned globally as a pioneer in the infrastructure of life, Samsung Everland strives to help its customers lead fulfilling lives and achieve success in their business operations by building the infrastructure for every aspect of life including entertainment, culinary, and business.
Samsung Fine Chemicals[edit]
Samsung Fine Chemicals is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 004000).
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance[edit]
Main article: Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance is a multinational general insurance company headquartered in Seoul.[74] It was founded in January 1952 as Korea Anbo Fire and Marine Insurance and was renamed Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance in December 1993.[75] Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance offers services including accident insurance, automobile insurance, casualty insurance, fire insurance, liability insurance, marine insurance, personal pensions and loans.[76] As of March 2011 it had operations in 10 countries and 6.5 million customers.[76] Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance had a total premium income of $11.7 billion in 2011 and total assets of $28.81 billion on 31 March 2011.[76] It is the largest provider of general insurance in South Korea.
Samsung Fire has been listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange since 1975 (number 000810).[76]
Samsung Heavy Industries[edit]
Main article: Samsung Heavy Industries
Samsung Heavy Industries is a shipbuilding and engineering company headquartered in Seoul. It was founded in August 1974. Its principal products are bulk carriers, container vessels, crude oil tankers, cruisers, passenger ferries, material handling equipment steel and bridge structures.[77] It achieved total revenues of 13,358.6 billion won in 2011 and is the world's second-largest shipbuilder by revenues (after Hyundai Heavy Industries).[78][79]
Samsung Heavy Industries is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 010140).
Samsung Life Insurance[edit]
Main article: Samsung Life Insurance
Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd. is a multinational life insurance company headquartered in Seoul. It was founded in March 1957 as Dongbang Life Insurance and became an affiliate of the Samsung Group in July 1963.[80] Samsung Life's principal activity is the provision of individual life insurance and annuity products and services.[81] As of December 2011 it had operations in seven countries, 8.08 million customers and 5,975 employees.[80] Samsung Life had total sales of 22,717 billion won in 2011 and total assets of 161,072 billion won at 31 December 2011.[80] It is the largest provider of life insurance in South Korea.
Samsung Life Insurance is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 032830)
Samsung Machine Tools[edit]
Samsung Machine Tools of America is a national distributor of machines in the United States. Samsung GM Machine Tools is the head office of China, It 's SMEC Legal incorporated company.[82]
Samsung Medical Center[edit]
The Samsung Medical Center was founded on November 9, 1994, under the philosophy of “contributing to improving the nation’s health through the best medical service, advanced medical research, and development of outstanding medical personnel". The Samsung Medical Center consists of a hospital and a cancer center. The hospital is located in an intelligent building with floor space of more than 200,000 square meters and 20 floors above ground and 5 floors underground, housing 40 departments, 10 specialist centers, 120 special clinics, and 1,306 beds.
The 655-bed Cancer Center has 11 floors above ground and 8 floors underground, with floor space of over 100,000 square meters. SMC is a tertiary hospital manned by approximately 7,400 staff including over 1,200 doctors and 2,300 nurses. Since its foundation, the Samsung Medical Center has successfully incorporated and developed an advanced model with the motto of becoming a "patient-centered hospital", a new concept in Korea.
Samsung SDI[edit]
Samsung SDI is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 006400). On December 5, 2012, the EU's antitrust regulator fined Samsung SDI and several other major companies for fixing prices of TV cathode-ray tubes in two cartels lasting nearly a decade.[83]
Samsung Securities[edit]
Samsung Securities is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 016360).
Samsung Techwin[edit]
Samsung Techwin is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 012450).
Shilla Hotels and Resorts[edit]
The Hotel opened in March 1979, following the intention of the late Lee Byung-chull, the founder of the Samsung Group. Hosting numerous state visits and international events, it has played the role of locomotive for the service industry in Korea with pride and responsibility as "the face representing the Samsung Group" and "the hotel representing Korea". THE SHILLA maintains elegance and a tradition of winning guests’ hearts with the aim of becoming "the best hospitalitycompany". By joining LHW, it is on par with the most luxurious hotels in the world. Meanwhile, it has added modernistic design elements on top of the roof called tradition, thus going through changes to make itself a premium lifestyle space. In addition, with its know-how as a service company in the background, it started aduty-free shop business, and has built its image as the best global distribution company. Also, it is expanding its business into commissioned management of fitness facilities with five-star hotels in Korea and abroad as well as into the restaurant business. THE SHILLA promises to be a globally prestigious hospitality company that offers the best value for money by making creative innovations and continuously taking on challenges. Shilla Hotels and Resorts is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 008770).
S-1 Corporation[edit]
S-1 was founded as Korea’s first specialized security business in 1997 and has maintained its position at the top of industry with the consistent willingness to take on challenges. S1 Corporation is listed on the Korea Exchange stock-exchange (number 012750)
Sponsorships[edit]
For more details on Samsung's sports sponsorships, see Samsung Sports.
Samsung sponsors Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.[128] Samsung are the current sponsors of the English Premier Leaguefootball club Chelsea Football Club. They also sponsor English Football League One clubs Swindon Town and Leyton Orient.[129]
Samsung, which started as a domestic sponsor of the Olympics in Seoul 1988, has been a worldwide Olympic partner since the 1998 Winter Olympics.[130]
Samsung operating many sports clubs, football club Suwon Samsung Bluewings, baseball club Samsung Lions, basketball club Seoul Samsung Thunders, volleyball club Daejeon Samsung Fire Bluefangs and etc.
Samsung also sponsors a former Starcraft Brood War and current Starcraft II Professional Gaming Team named Samsung Khan. Samsung has sponsored the team since 2000.
Samsung Electronics spent an estimated $14 billion (U.S.) – more than Iceland’s GDP – on advertising and marketing in 2013. At 5.4% of annual revenue, this is a larger proportion than any of the world’s top-20 companies by sales (Apple spent 0.6% and General Motors spent 3.5%). Samsung became the world's biggest advertiser in 2012, spending $4.3 billion, compared to Apple's $1 billion. Samsung's global brand value of $39.6 billion is less than half that of Apple.[131]
Controversies[edit]
Financial scandals[edit]
In 2007 former Samsung chief lawyer Kim Yong Chul claimed that he was involved in bribing and fabricating evidence on behalf of the group's chairman Lee Kun-heeand the company. Kim said that Samsung lawyers trained executives to serve as scapegoats in a "fabricated scenario" to protect Lee, even though those executives were not involved. Kim also told the media that he was "sidelined" by Samsung after he refused to pay a $3.3 million bribe to the judge presiding over a case where two of their executives were found guilty. Kim revealed that the company had raised a large amount of secret funds through bank accounts illegally opened under the names of up to 1,000 Samsung executives—under his own name, four accounts were opened to manage 5 billion won. [132]
Antitrust concerns[edit]
“You can even say the Samsung chairman is more powerful than the President of South Korea. Korean people have come to think of Samsung as invincible and above the law”, said Woo Suk-hoon, host of a popular economics podcast in a Washington Post article headlined "In South Korea, the Republic of Samsung", published on December 9, 2012. Critics claimed that Samsung knocked out smaller businesses, limiting choices for Korean consumers, and sometimes colluded with fellow giants to fix prices while bullying those who investigate. Lee Jung-hee, a South Korean presidential candidate, said in a debate, “Samsung has the government in its hands. Samsung manages the legal world, the press, the academics and bureaucracy”.[133]
Viral marketing[edit]
The Fair Trade Commission of Taiwan is investigating Samsung and its local Taiwanese advertising agency for false advertising. The case was commenced after the Commission received complaints stating that the agency hired students to attack competitors of Samsung Electronics in online forums.[134] Samsung Taiwan made an announcement on its Facebook page in which it stated that it had not interfered with any evaluation report and had stopped online marketing campaigns that constituted posting or responding to content in online forums.
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