Lee Byung-chull facts for kids

Lee in 1950

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

Lee Byung-chull (Korean: 이병철; 李秉喆, born February 12, 1910 – died November 19, 1987) was a very important businessman from South Korea. He is best known for starting the huge company called Samsung. Samsung is now one of the biggest companies in the world.

Who Was Lee Byung-chull?

Lee Byung-chull was born in a place called Uiryeong in South Gyeongsang Province, Korea. This was when Korea was under Japanese rule. He came from a wealthy family. He went to Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, but he did not finish his degree there.

Starting His First Business

In 1938, Lee Byung-chull started his first business. It was a rice mill in Daegu. This was a small start, but it helped him learn a lot about business. He soon moved into other areas. He started a trucking business and a real estate company. These early businesses helped him build up money and experience.

How Samsung Began

In 1938, Lee Byung-chull officially founded a company called Samsung Sanghoe. The name "Samsung" means "three stars" in Korean. At first, it was a small trading company. It bought and sold things like dried fish, vegetables, and noodles. These goods were sent from Korea to China.

After the Korean War ended in 1953, South Korea needed to rebuild. Lee Byung-chull saw this as a chance to grow his company. He started new businesses in many different areas. These included textiles, sugar refining, and insurance.

Samsung's Growth and Success

Over the years, Samsung grew very quickly. It became a leader in many industries. Lee Byung-chull made sure Samsung was always looking for new ideas. He focused on making high-quality products.

Under his leadership, Samsung expanded into electronics. This was a big step for the company. They started making things like televisions and other electronic devices. Today, Samsung Electronics is famous worldwide for its smartphones and other tech products.

Lee Byung-chull also started other important Samsung companies. These include Samsung Heavy Industries, which builds ships. He created many parts of the large Samsung Group. His vision helped make Samsung a global powerhouse.

Lee Byung-chull's Legacy

Lee Byung-chull passed away on November 19, 1987. He left behind a huge business empire. His son, Lee Kun-hee, took over the leadership of Samsung. Lee Byung-chull is remembered as one of South Korea's most important business leaders. He helped shape the country's economy.

Images for kids

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  Lee Byung-chul (left) and his son Lee Kun-hee (right) in 1950.

See also

In Spanish: Lee Byung-chul para niños