Lee Byung-chul was born in 1910 in the village of Haeundae, South Korea. He grew up in a poor family and had to drop out of school at a young age to support his family. After working as a salesman and a merchant, Lee Byung-chul began to build his business empire.
In 1938, Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe, which was initially a small trading company. The company's early success was due to Lee Byung-chul's hard work and determination. He traveled extensively throughout Asia and Europe, establishing trade relationships with merchants and traders.