History

Samsung's History

From its inception as a small export business in Taegu, Korea, Samsung has grown to become one of the world's leading electronics companies, specialising in digital appliances and media, semiconductors, memory, and system integration. Today Samsung's innovative and top quality products and processes are world recognised. This timeline captures the major milestones in Samsung's history, showing how the company expanded its product lines and reach, grew its revenue and market share, and has followed its mission of making life better for consumers around the world.

1994-1996 Becoming a Global Force

In the mid-1990s, Samsung revolutionised its business through a dedication to making world-class products, providing total customer satisfaction, and being a good corporate citizen – all under the vision of "quality first."

During this period, 17 different products—from semiconductors to computer monitors, TFT-LCD screens to colour 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.
Being No.1 also means fulfilling corporate social obligations, whether the cause is social welfare, environmental conservation, cultural events, or sports. To that end, Samsung actively participated in sports marketing, and as a result of its intensive efforts, its then-chairman, Kun-Hee Lee, was selected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July 1996, greatly enhancing the company's image as a key contributor to world athletics.

1994-1996 Becoming a Global Force

1996	Development of 1G DRAM completed Developed world's fastest CPU (central processing unit), the Alpha chip Began mass production of 64M DRAMs
1995	Samsung Entertainment Group started Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology developed world's first real-time MPEG-3 technology World's first 33" double-screen TV introduced
1994	Samsung Heavy Industries developed first Korean-built electric car (SEV-III) Development of world's first 256M DRAM completed 30 millionth microwave oven produced Samsung Aerospace developed the world's first four-power zoom camera