Lee Byung-chul

**Lee Byung-chul** (12 February 1910 – 19 November 1987) was a South Korean businessman. He was the founder of the Samsung, which is South Korea's largest business group, and one of South Korea's most successful businessmen.

## Personal life

### Early life

Byung-chul was the son of a wealthy landowning family (a branch of the Gyeongju Lee clan). He attended college at Waseda University in Tokyo but did not complete his degree.

### Korean art collection

After his death, Byung-chul's estate (Ho-Am) was opened to the public for tours. His collection of Korean art is considered one of the largest private collections in the country and it features a number of art objects that have been designated "National Treasures" by the Korean government. Ho-Am is located a short distance from the Everland park, South Korea's most popular amusement park (Everland is also owned by the Samsung).

## Family

The family of Lee Byung-chul

* Lee Byung Chul (12 February 1910 ~ 19 November 1987) - 1st chairman of Samsung.
	+ 1st wife: Park Du-eul (1907 ~ 1999)
		- 1st daughter: Lee In-hee (1929 ~ 2019) - The founder of Hansol and spouse of its former chairman, Dr. Cho Wan-hae, M.D. (1927 ~ 2019).
		- 1st son: Lee Maeng-hee (20 June 1932 ~ 14 August 2014)[*citation needed*] - Founder of CJ Group (in which he lost the lawsuit[*which?*]alongside with Lee Kun-hee).
		- 2nd son: Lee Chang-hee (1934 ~ 1992) - Founder of Saehan.
		- 2nd daughter: Lee Suk-hee (1936 ~ ), spouse of LG board director Koo Cha-ha (1934 ~), younger brother of the emeritus chairman, Koo Cha-kyung (1926 ~) and paternal uncle of the former deceased chairman, Koo Bon-moo (1947 ~ 2018).
		- 3rd daughter: Lee Soon-hee (1938 ~ )
		- 4th daughter: Lee Deok-hee (1940 ~ ), widow of Lee Jeong-gi (1938 ~ 2006).
		- 3rd son: Lee Kun-hee (1942 ~ ) - 2nd chairman of Samsung.
		- 5th daughter: Lee Myung-hee (1944 ~ ), spouse of Chung Jae-eun (1937 ~), chairwoman of Shinsegae group and mother of Chung Yong-jin.
	+ 2nd wife: Kuroda (1922 ~ 2007)
		- 4th son: Lee Tae-whi (1946 ~ )
		- 6th daughter: Lee Hye-ja (1954 ~ )

## Career

### Beginning

Byung-chul established a trucking business in Daegu on 1 March 1938, which he named Samsung Trading Co, the forerunner to Samsung. Samsung means "Three Stars" which explains the initial corporate logos.

By 1945 Samsung was transporting goods throughout Korea and to other countries. The company was based in Seoul by 1947. It was one of the ten largest "trading companies" when the Korean War started in 1950. With the conquest of Seoul by the North Korean army, Lee was forced to relocate his business to Busan. The massive influx of U.S. troops and equipment into Busan over the next year and a half of the war proved to be highly beneficial to Lee's trucking company.

In 1961, when Park Chung-hee seized power in the May 16 coup, Lee was in Japan and for some time he did not return to South Korea. Eventually, a deal was struck and Lee returned but Samsung had to give up control over the banks it acquired and follow economic directives from Park's government.

### Federation of Korean Industries

The first step of the Federation of Korean Industries was established in August 1961. The association was founded by Samsung Group Chairman Lee Byung-chul. He was a noble leader to every employee that walked through the office.

Later in life, Byung-chul served as chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries and was known as the richest man in Korea.