Is Samsung a Korean company or a Japanese company?

Samsung is a South Korean company. Lee Byung-chull founded Samsung in Daegu, Korea, in 1938, and Samsung Electronics is headquartered in Suwon, South Korea.

Who owns Samsung phones and Galaxy phones?

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. owns and makes Samsung phones, including Samsung Galaxy phones. Galaxy is a Samsung product family, not an independent phone company.

Is Samsung Android, or are Samsung and Android the same?

Samsung and Android are not the same. Samsung Electronics makes Galaxy devices, while Android is a mobile operating system associated with Google and used by Samsung on many Galaxy products.

Is Samsung TV Plus really free?

Yes. Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported service offering live channels and on-demand content, with no paid subscription or credit card required.

Is the Samsung CEO a billionaire?

The available corporate sources identify Young-Hyun Jun and Tae Moon Roh as Samsung Electronics CEOs, but they do not establish either CEO’s billionaire status. CEO status and personal wealth are separate facts.

Who is Samsung’s largest shareholder?

Samsung Life Insurance was Samsung Electronics’ largest disclosed shareholder by common-stock stake in the company’s 2025 interim report, holding 8.51 percent as of 30 September 2025. Shareholdings can change after the reporting date.

Is Samsung Messages being discontinued?

Samsung Messages availability depends on the device, software version, carrier, and market. Samsung Messages and Google Messages are separate messaging applications, so a change affecting one does not mean that Samsung phones or Samsung Electronics are being discontinued.

Who owns Samsung?

Samsung

Ultimate ownerSouth KoreaSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Brand origin: South Korea
Main production: Several countries, incl. Vietnam

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Political donations in the US

Samsung gave US$315,000 to Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2025.

The company's political action committee gave 45% to Republican and 38% to Democratic candidates in the 2025 to 2026 election cycle.

Information from the US Federal Election Commission (FEC). Made O'Meter takes no side. Source: FEC · the PAC

See the full list in the Magazine

About Samsung

What is Samsung?

Samsung is a South Korean technology brand operated by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics makes and sells smartphones, televisions, home appliances, memory chips, and other electronic products. Samsung Electronics reported revenue of KRW 333.6 trillion and operating profit of KRW 43.6 trillion for 2025. Samsung Electronics has two principal business divisions, Device eXperience and Device Solutions, covering consumer products and semiconductor businesses. Samsung is not the same thing as Android. Samsung is a device and technology company, while Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google and the Android Open Source Project. Samsung Galaxy smartphones commonly use Android with Samsung’s One UI software, but Samsung also makes products that do not run Android, including televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and semiconductor components. Samsung is also separate from Apple. Samsung Electronics competes with Apple in smartphones, tablets, watches, earbuds, and other consumer electronics, while Samsung has a broader presence in televisions, appliances, displays, and memory chips. A single overall answer to whether Apple or Samsung is bigger depends on the measure and the year used.

Who owns Samsung?

Samsung is ultimately owned by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Samsung Electronics is a publicly listed company headquartered in South Korea. Samsung Electronics is not owned by one private individual. Its shares are held by major shareholders, affiliated companies, institutional investors, foreign investors, and retail investors. Samsung Life Insurance was Samsung Electronics’ largest disclosed shareholder by common-stock stake in the company’s 2025 interim report, with an 8.51 percent holding as of 30 September 2025. Samsung C&T held 5.11 percent, and Lee Jae-yong held 1.67 percent according to a current shareholder listing dated 13 September 2026. Samsung Electronics’ corporate governance report for 2025 states that major shareholders and related parties held 19.71 percent of shares, while minority shareholders held 66.04 percent. These figures describe share ownership in Samsung Electronics, not a separate parent company that owns Samsung Electronics. Samsung Electronics is the company associated with Samsung televisions, Galaxy phones, appliances, memory products, and Samsung TV Plus. Samsung Group is a broader South Korean business group containing separately incorporated companies. Samsung Electronics does not own every company that uses Samsung in its name. Samsung Heavy Industries, Samsung SDI, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and Samsung C&T are separate corporations with their own ownership structures. The chief executive structure changed in 2025. Young-Hyun Jun serves as Vice Chairman and CEO for the Device Solutions division, while Tae Moon Roh serves as President and CEO for the Device eXperience division.

Where does Samsung come from?

Samsung originated in South Korea. Lee Byung-chull founded Samsung as a grocery trading store on 1 March 1938 in Taegu, now called Daegu, Korea. Samsung initially traded noodles and other local goods. The business also exported products to China and its provinces. The name Samsung means “three stars” in Korean. Lee Byung-chull chose the name to represent a vision of something large, strong, and enduring. Samsung entered electronics in the late 1960s. Samsung Electronics Corporation was formally created on 13 January 1969 after promoters, including Lee Byung-chull, selected the name Samsung Electronics. Samsung Electronics was established as Samsung Group’s entry into television and consumer electronics. Samsung Electronics launched its first product, a black-and-white television, in 1970. Samsung began mass-producing home appliances during the 1970s and became a leading black-and-white television manufacturer. The company expanded into washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, color televisions, personal computers, videocassette recorders, and tape recorders during the 1970s and 1980s. Samsung began exporting more products to North America during the 1980s. Samsung Electronics officially adopted its present corporate name in 1984. Samsung’s first corporate logo featured three stars based on a graphical representation of the Korean Hanja word Samsung. Samsung Electronics later became a major manufacturer of smartphones, televisions, and memory chips. The corporate headquarters of Samsung Electronics is in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

What products does Samsung make?

Samsung makes Galaxy smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds, televisions, monitors, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, ovens, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, air conditioners, and other consumer electronics. Samsung Electronics also makes memory chips, processors, image sensors, displays, and other components used in electronic devices. Samsung Galaxy is a product family rather than a separate company. Samsung Electronics owns and makes Galaxy phones, including the Galaxy S, Galaxy Z, Galaxy A, and Galaxy M product lines in different markets. Samsung Galaxy phones generally use Android, but Android and Samsung remain separate entities. Samsung televisions include smart television products and models using Samsung’s own television software platform. Samsung TV Plus is a separate streaming service connected with Samsung devices. Samsung appliances include refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, cooking appliances, vacuum cleaners, and air conditioners. Samsung A16 refers to a Galaxy A-series smartphone model. Water resistance depends on the exact model specification, and a product name alone does not establish that every Galaxy A16 version is waterproof. Samsung printers and printer businesses are not the same as Samsung’s current consumer smartphone and television operations, so ownership questions about Samsung printers require identifying the particular product and market.

Is Samsung TV Plus free?

Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported streaming service with live television channels and on-demand movies and shows. Samsung TV Plus does not require a paid subscription or credit card. Samsung states that the service is available on Samsung Smart TVs released after 2016, selected Galaxy devices, Smart Monitors, and Family Hub refrigerators. An internet connection is required for streaming. Availability, channels, programs, and supported devices vary by country and device. Samsung TV Plus is owned and operated by Samsung Electronics, not by a separate company that owns Samsung televisions.

Is Samsung customer service available 24/7?

Samsung offers 24/7 chat support in some markets, but customer-service hours and contact methods vary by country and product. Samsung’s Canadian support page lists chat support as available 24/7 and also lists live chat, text, email, and other contact methods. This does not mean that every Samsung support channel operates around the clock in every country. Customers need to use the support page for their market and product category.

How is Samsung different from Apple and LG?

Samsung and Apple compete in smartphones, tablets, watches, earbuds, and related consumer electronics. Samsung also operates major television, appliance, display, and semiconductor businesses, while Apple’s principal product categories include the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and related services. Samsung and LG are separate South Korean companies. Samsung Electronics owns the Samsung consumer electronics brand, while LG Electronics owns and operates LG’s consumer electronics brands. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics compete in televisions, appliances, displays, and other electronics. Samsung does not own LG, and LG does not own Samsung. Whether Samsung is better than an iPhone is not a single factual determination. Galaxy phones and iPhones use different operating systems, hardware designs, software ecosystems, and product ranges. The relevant comparison depends on the specific Samsung Galaxy model, iPhone model, features, price, and market.

Is Samsung publicly traded and who owns Samsung stock?

Samsung Electronics is publicly traded, and its shares are held by institutional, affiliated, foreign, and retail investors. Samsung Electronics’ corporate governance report identifies Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. as the company name and reports share ownership for the 2025 financial year. Samsung Life Insurance was the largest disclosed shareholder by common-stock stake in Samsung Electronics’ 2025 interim report, with 8.51 percent as of 30 September 2025. Samsung C&T and other affiliated entities also hold Samsung Electronics shares. Lee Jae-yong is an individual shareholder, but he does not own all of Samsung Electronics and is not the company’s sole owner. Samsung Electronics is listed in South Korea. Its public ownership means that the Samsung brand is ultimately associated with a listed corporation rather than a privately held family company.

What does Samsung Electronics make for other companies?

Samsung Electronics makes semiconductor and display components as well as finished consumer products. Its memory chips, processors, image sensors, and displays can be used in products made by Samsung and by other electronics companies. Samsung’s Device Solutions activities include memory and other semiconductor businesses. Its Device eXperience activities include smartphones, televisions, appliances, monitors, and related consumer products. This structure explains why Samsung can appear both as a consumer brand and as a component supplier. A Samsung Galaxy phone, Samsung television, and Samsung memory chip are products or components connected with Samsung Electronics, but they belong to different business areas.

What does Samsung’s three-star name mean?

Samsung means “three stars” in Korean. Lee Byung-chull used the name to express a vision of something large, strong, and enduring. Samsung’s early corporate logo also featured three stars. The logo was based on a graphical representation of the Korean Hanja word Samsung. The three-star design connected the company’s name with its early corporate identity.

Frequently asked questions about Samsung

Who is the real owner of Samsung?: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is the ultimate owner of the Samsung consumer electronics brand, according to Made O’Meter’s ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Samsung Electronics is publicly listed, so its shares are owned by multiple shareholders rather than one private owner.
Is Samsung a Korean company or a Japanese company?: Samsung is a South Korean company. Lee Byung-chull founded Samsung in Daegu, Korea, in 1938, and Samsung Electronics is headquartered in Suwon, South Korea.
Who owns Samsung phones and Galaxy phones?: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. owns and makes Samsung phones, including Samsung Galaxy phones. Galaxy is a Samsung product family, not an independent phone company.
Is Samsung Android, or are Samsung and Android the same?: Samsung and Android are not the same. Samsung Electronics makes Galaxy devices, while Android is a mobile operating system associated with Google and used by Samsung on many Galaxy products.
Is Samsung TV Plus really free?: Yes. Samsung TV Plus is a free, ad-supported service offering live channels and on-demand content, with no paid subscription or credit card required.
Is the Samsung CEO a billionaire?: The available corporate sources identify Young-Hyun Jun and Tae Moon Roh as Samsung Electronics CEOs, but they do not establish either CEO’s billionaire status. CEO status and personal wealth are separate facts.
Who is Samsung’s largest shareholder?: Samsung Life Insurance was Samsung Electronics’ largest disclosed shareholder by common-stock stake in the company’s 2025 interim report, holding 8.51 percent as of 30 September 2025. Shareholdings can change after the reporting date.
Is Samsung Messages being discontinued?: Samsung Messages availability depends on the device, software version, carrier, and market. Samsung Messages and Google Messages are separate messaging applications, so a change affecting one does not mean that Samsung phones or Samsung Electronics are being discontinued.