2. Move fast and break things
Samsung started as a fruit and vegetable company, but has to survive an early scandal on its way to becoming the global tech giant we know today.
Samsung started as a fruit and vegetable business, but growth in the 1950s leaves it vulnerable to political interference. Its chairman makes a deal to ensure its survival, but is instead hit with a scandal which could derail the whole company. How did Samsung get through to become the global tech giant we know today?
In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors - inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.
Host: Elise Hu
Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams
Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang
Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons
Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King.
Series editor: Matt Willis
With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and, also, Mary Wilkinson.
Senior commissioning producer: Sarah Green
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel
Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio production
On radio
Featured
.
Broadcasts
- Sat 4 Apr 202604:32GMTBBC World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa, East Asia & South Asia
- Sat 4 Apr 202614:32GMTBBC World Service UK DAB/Freeview & Online only
- Sat 4 Apr 202617:32GMTBBC World Service News Internet
- Sun 5 Apr 202600:32GMTBBC World Service
- Sun 5 Apr 202603:32GMTBBC World Service Australasia, South Asia & East Asia only
- Sun 5 Apr 202604:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa
- Sun 5 Apr 202608:32GMTBBC World Service Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa only
- Sun 5 Apr 202610:32GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa
Podcast
![]()
Inheritance: Samsung
The family dramas that shape some of the world's biggest businesses

