Founded in 1938 in South Korea as a trading company, Samsung has evolved into a world-class corporation with businesses that span advanced technology, semiconductors, skyscraper and plant construction, petrochemical, fashion, medicine, finance, and hotels. Notable Samsung subsidiaries include Samsung Electronics, one of the world’s largest information technology companies, and Samsung Heavy Industries, the world’s second-largest shipbuilder. Samsung has a powerful influence on South Korea’s economic development, politics, media and culture, and its affiliate companies produce around a fifth of South Korea’s total exports. In 2013, Samsung achieved the largest market share of nearly 31% in the global smartphone segment.