The headquarters of major Korean conglomerates are more than just buildings. From their locations and design choices to the construction process and the achievements made within them—tracing the history of these headquarters reveals key moments in Korea’s industrial history. E-Daily presents a variety of stories from the business world through a series on the headquarters of major conglomerates.

[Edaily Reporter Jo Yong-seok] “The design proposal featuring ‘elegant proportions’—one that would remain a fine building for a long time without going out of style—was the best choice.”

The Samsung Seocho Headquarters has served as the “heart of Samsung” since 2008. Back in the early 2000s, when design work on this building began, the global architectural world was rapidly embracing non-conventional architecture—featuring twisted or curved exteriors. There were also high expectations for the “Bilbao Effect,” in which unique structures like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, would transform the very image of a city.

However, Samsung’s choice was different. According to Hwang Jae-sik, former head of Samwoo Architects & Engineers, who participated in the design at the time, KPF—the U.S. architectural firm that co-designed the project—presented a final proposal for the Seocho Headquarters that included “twisted curtain walls” and “dramatic sculptural elements” in addition to elegant proportions. In a 2011 article in the Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea, Director Hwang stated, “The design team leaned toward a complex and dynamic design, but Samsung chose the most restrained design.” Thus, the angular tower—emphasizing vertical and horizontal lines rather than flamboyant curves or unconventional sculptures—was born. A former top executive at Samsung remarked, “As the headquarters of a global company, weren’t they trying to embody a solidity that would remain timeless?” adding, “They likely intended it to serve as a restrained backdrop within the urban context of Gangnam.”

The Samsung Seocho Headquarters served as the birthplace of global excellence. Samsung devised its strategy for the global DRAM “chicken game”—which erupted around 2008—at the Seocho Headquarters, solidifying its position as the world’s number one since 1992, which became the cornerstone of the current memory supercycle. The Galaxy S, launched in 2010, revolutionized the smartphone market. According to Counterpoint Research, SamsungElectronics’ share of global smartphone shipments more than doubled, rising from 8% in 2010 to 19% in 2025. In 2008, the first year SamsungElectronics moved into the Seocho headquarters, the company’s revenue was 121.3 trillion won; this year, it reached 305.4 trillion won in the first half alone.

At the heart of this transformation was the “chairman’s resolve.” The late Chairman Lee Kun-Hee first reported to work at his office on the 42nd floor of Building C in April 2011. His very presence at the office sent a clear message. Currently, Building C houses Jay Y. Lee’s office. It is at the Seocho headquarters where Chairman Lee meets with the heads of major tech companies to chart the course for the “post-semiconductor” era.