Samdo
Samdo was a South Korean multinational conglomerate best known for pioneering clothing exports and manufacturing textiles, apparel, and zippers before diversifying into electronics, chemicals, construction, automobile parts, and other businesses.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Samdo, also known as Samdo Group, was a South Korean multinational conglomerate founded in 1960 as Samdo Trading Corporation by entrepreneur Kim Man-Joong. The company emerged during the formative period of South Korea's export-led industrialization and became one of the country's early large-scale clothing exporters. Together with Chunwoosa, it was among the first Korean companies to export manufactured clothing, helping establish apparel and sewn goods as important sources of foreign currency for the national economy. Samdo initially concentrated on textile and garment manufacturing. It established factories in Suyoung in 1966 and Eonyang in 1971, then expanded into zipper production to address supply and delivery problems faced by Korean apparel companies. In 1973, it created an additional Eonyang zipper factory in cooperation with German and American zipper businesses. After several years of technical and operating experience with international partners, Samdo developed the DULON zipper brand in 1977. The brand produced nylon, plastic, and metal zippers and became part of Samdo's broader portfolio of manufactured and licensed products. The company grew rapidly during the 1960s and 1970s. Reported exports rose from $800,000 in 1963 to $2.7 million in 1965 and $35 million in 1973. In November 1979, Samdo achieved $100 million in exports from a single textile product, a milestone recognized through South Korea's 100 Million Dollar Tower award. It also received several Presidential Commendations and Bronze, Silver, and Gold Tower Orders of Industrial Service Merit for export performance. These distinctions reflected the importance attached to export manufacturing in South Korea at the time. Samdo diversified beyond textiles as it expanded. Samdo Electronics manufactured car stereos, while affiliated businesses entered construction, chemicals, automobile lighting components, terminal operations, engineering, hotels, leisure goods, durable goods, art-related products, and seafood. The group acquired or absorbed a range of companies, including Daeshin Trading, Seowoo, Samyang Textile, Daeheung Textile, Dongdo Apparel, and Saeronball. Its international footprint included operations or offices in approximately 14 countries during the 1980s and 1990s, with roughly 9,000 employees reported during that period. The group also used licensed and manufactured brands in apparel and accessories. Its portfolio included DULON, Miss Sixty, Absorba, OPT 002, Optilon, Wangja Children's Clothing, Talon, A Comme Ca, Tartine et Chocolat, Commetoi, and Sergio Valente. Sergio Valente was introduced in South Korea through Englishtown Sportswear in the United States. This combination of export manufacturing, own-brand production, licensing, and overseas distribution was central to Samdo's business model. Samdo's fortunes weakened as the textile-export economy became more difficult in the late 1980s. The parent company's sales declined, and the group fell out of South Korea's top 50 companies during the 1990s. It closed its Chicago and New York branches in 1992, while continuing to restructure its domestic and affiliated businesses. On February 27, 1995, Samdo Group applied for court receivership. Several affiliates were sold during the restructuring period, and liquidation was approved on December 12, 1995. A later transaction involving SB Finance Korea, associated with SoftBank, took place in December 2000 as part of an effort to normalize management. The reorganization procedure concluded in February 2002. The historical Samdo Group is therefore regarded as defunct, although some former subsidiaries, brands, or corporate assets may have had separate subsequent histories.
History
Samdo was founded in 1960 as Samdo Trading Corporation by Kim Man-Joong. Its name, written in Korean as 삼도 and in Hanja as 三都, was explained through the ideas of three elements—heaven, earth, and people—and the gathering or coordination of those elements. The concept was associated with management ideals involving appropriate timing, a clearly defined field of activity, and harmony among people. The company began as a textile and garment exporter at a time when South Korea was building an industrial economy around manufactured exports. Samdo and Chunwoosa were identified as early Korean exporters of manufactured clothing. Samdo established a factory in Suyoung in 1966 and another in Eonyang in 1971. In 1973, it opened an additional zipper facility in Eonyang with support from German and American zipper companies. The project addressed delivery difficulties experienced by domestic apparel manufacturers and gave Samdo experience in zipper technology and production. In 1977, the company introduced its own DULON brand for nylon, plastic, and metal zippers. Samdo's export performance expanded substantially. Reported exports increased from $800,000 in 1963 to $2.7 million in 1965 and $35 million in 1973. The company became publicly listed in 1976. During the same period, it added a Gyeongju factory and established Samdo Electronics, which produced car stereos. It acquired Daeshin Trading in 1977, doubling its zipper capacity, and created Samdo General Development in 1978. Samdo General Construction was merged into that business in 1979. The group continued to broaden its corporate structure in the 1980s. Seowoo was acquired in 1980. In 1983, Samyang Textile, Daeheung Textile, and Dongdo Apparel were absorbed into Samdo Trading Corporation. The group also introduced Sergio Valente through Englishtown Sportswear in the United States. In 1987, it acquired Saeronball, an automobile lamp-parts manufacturer, and renamed it Samdo Electrics. It also acquired Donghae Terminal, while Samdo Construction was sold. Beyond its core textile and apparel activities, the group moved into leisure goods, art and durable goods, seafood, chemicals, construction, engineering, hotels, and other industrial activities. Samdo built an international operating network during the 1980s and 1990s. Its activities extended to roughly 14 countries and involved approximately 9,000 employees at its peak. Overseas expansion included the establishment of P.T. Samdonesia in Indonesia in 1989 and Cosmo Macky Industries in Sri Lanka in 1990. The group maintained branches in the United States, including Chicago and New York, with the New York office located in the Empire State Building. These U.S. branches were closed in 1992. The company was recognized repeatedly for its contribution to South Korea's export economy. It received Presidential Commendations on six Trade Days and was awarded the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit in 1968, the Silver Tower in 1976, and the Gold Tower in 1977. In 1979, it received the 100 Million Dollar Tower after reaching $100 million in exports from one textile product. In 1998, Samdo, through Daeshin Trade, received a second Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. Overseas customers and partners also recognized the group with supplier and quality awards, including distinctions associated with Sears, The May Department Stores Company, White Stag, and Allied. The textile-export model became increasingly difficult in the late 1980s and 1990s. Sales at Samdo Trading Corporation declined, and the group fell out of South Korea's top 50 companies. A 21-story office building was completed in Seoul in 1991, but restructuring pressures continued. Seowoo was renamed Samdo Apparel in 1992. On February 27, 1995, Samdo Group applied for court receivership. During the resulting process, Samdo Electric, Samdo Industry, Samdo Chemical, Donghae Terminal, Samdo Guam Hotel, and Pungmu Engineering were sold. On December 12, 1995, liquidation of the group was approved. In December 2000, SB Finance Korea, associated with SoftBank, took over the group in a transaction intended to normalize management. The reorganization procedure ended in February 2002. Samdo Group is consequently treated as a defunct historical conglomerate, although the former subsidiaries, licensed brands, and corporate assets may have followed separate paths after the group's dissolution.
- 2002
Reorganization procedure concludes
[1]The group's reorganization procedure ends in February.
- 2000
SB Finance Korea takes over Samdo
[1]The group is taken over in December through a management-normalization transaction.
- 1995
Court receivership and liquidation process begin
[1]Samdo applies for court receivership in February, and liquidation is approved in December.
- 1992
U.S. branches closed
[1]The Chicago and New York branches are closed, reflecting the group's restructuring pressures.
- 1990
Cosmo Macky Industries established in Sri Lanka
[1]Samdo extends its overseas production network to Sri Lanka.
- 1989
P.T. Samdonesia established
[1]The group expands its international manufacturing presence into Indonesia.
- 1987
Automobile lighting business acquired
[1]Samdo acquires Saeronball and renames it Samdo Electrics.
- 1983
Textile and apparel affiliates absorbed
[1]Samyang Textile, Daeheung Textile, and Dongdo Apparel are absorbed into Samdo Trading Corporation.
- 1979
Samdo reaches $100 million in single-product textile exports
[1]The achievement earns the company South Korea's 100 Million Dollar Tower award.
- 1977
DULON zipper brand introduced
[1]Samdo begins producing its own nylon, plastic, and metal zippers under the DULON name.
Products and positioning
An export-oriented South Korean industrial group that combined large-scale textile and garment manufacturing with zipper production, licensed apparel brands, and diversified industrial subsidiaries.
Zippers · 1977
DULON
Samdo's own zipper brand, introduced in 1977 after several years of operating experience with German and American zipper companies. DULON covered nylon, plastic, and metal zippers and supported the company's role as a supplier to domestic apparel manufacturers and export clothing producers.
Apparel · 1960
Export-manufactured apparel
The core business of Samdo Trading Corporation consisted of manufactured clothing and textile products made for export. Samdo was one of South Korea's early clothing exporters and reached major export milestones during the country's industrialization period.
Licensed apparel · 1983
Sergio Valente
A licensed or internationally sourced apparel brand introduced in South Korea through Englishtown Sportswear Ltd. in the United States as Samdo expanded from contract manufacturing into branded and licensed clothing.
Apparel
Absorba
An apparel brand listed among Samdo Trading Corporation's manufactured and licensed brands. It formed part of Samdo's broader clothing portfolio alongside children's, sportswear, and fashion labels.
Children's apparel
Wangja Children's Clothing
A children's clothing line included in Samdo Trading Corporation's historical brand portfolio. It illustrates the group's extension from general export garments into more segmented apparel categories.
Automotive electronics · 1976
Samdo Electronics car stereos
Samdo Electronics was established as a diversified affiliate producing car stereos. The business represented one of the group's moves beyond textiles into consumer and automotive-related electronics.
Brand decisions
2000
Takeover by SB Finance KoreaM&ABackground
Following the group's financial distress and liquidation process, a transaction was pursued to normalize management.
Action taken
SB Finance Korea, associated with SoftBank, took over the group in December 2000.
Aftermath
The reorganization procedure concluded in February 2002, although Samdo is treated as a defunct historical conglomerate.
1995
Application for court receivershipOtherBackground
Samdo Trading Corporation's sales had declined as the textile-export economy weakened, and the group had fallen out of South Korea's top 50 companies.
Action taken
Samdo Group applied for court receivership on February 27, 1995. Several affiliates were sold during the process, and liquidation was approved on December 12.
Aftermath
The decision marked the effective dismantling of the historical Samdo conglomerate.
1992
Closure of Chicago and New York branchesStrategyBackground
Samdo faced declining textile-export performance and increasing pressure to restructure its international operations.
Action taken
The group closed its Chicago and New York branches in the United States.
Aftermath
The closures reduced Samdo's direct U.S. office presence before the group's later receivership and liquidation process.
1987
Diversification into automobile componentsStrategyBackground
Samdo was expanding into industries beyond clothing and textiles during the 1980s.
Action taken
The group acquired Saeronball, a manufacturer of automobile lamp parts, and renamed it Samdo Electrics.
Aftermath
Automobile components became one of the group's non-textile business areas.
1983
Expansion into branded and licensed apparelStrategyBackground
After establishing a substantial export-manufacturing base, Samdo sought to broaden its presence in clothing beyond production for external customers.
Action taken
The group absorbed several textile and apparel companies and introduced Sergio Valente through Englishtown Sportswear in the United States, while maintaining a wider portfolio of clothing labels.
Aftermath
Samdo's business structure combined textile manufacturing with licensed and branded apparel activities.
1977
Launch of DULON zippersProduct launchBackground
Domestic apparel companies had experienced difficulties obtaining manufactured clothing components on time, and Samdo had gained zipper-production experience through international cooperation.
Action taken
Samdo developed and began producing nylon, plastic, and metal zippers under its own DULON brand.
Aftermath
Zippers became an identifiable product category within Samdo's broader textile and apparel manufacturing portfolio.
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