The heart of innovation in Seoul has a first and last name: Digital City, or Samsung City, located in Suwon, on the outskirts of the South Korean capital. In this immense hub of development for globally impactful technologies created by the company, there is a treasure for innovation enthusiasts: the Samsung Innovation Museum (SIM).
This museum brings together an impressive collection of historical artifacts related to innovation, offering visitors a journey through memory from the invention of electricity to milestones in television and mobile telephony. With over 10,950 square meters spread across three main spaces, the museum is organized chronologically to provide an enriching experience.
The first part of the tour showcases more than 150 historical objects dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries, including Thomas Edison’s filament bulb and the early prototypes of washing machines and refrigerators. The second space focuses on the “three main pillars” of the modern electronics industry according to Samsung: semiconductor chips, displays, and mobile technology. Here, collectible pieces can be found, such as the DynaTAC 8000X, the first commercially available mobile phone introduced by Motorola in 1983, and the Simon Personal Communicator, considered the first smartphone due to its touchscreen and advanced features.
The museum offers interactive experiences that allow visitors to explore the artifacts that shaped the Samsung company, while over 700 images and videos related to telecommunications are displayed throughout the tour. Furthermore, the “Galaxy Ball” adds a special touch to the space, sending drawings and immersive experiences to the user.
The last part of the museum focuses on the brand’s future vision and how its products are interconnected with people’s lives in different domains. Photographs and videos showcase the company’s beginnings, when it had a handful of employees sharing a common dream: technology.
Samsung’s Digital City houses four office towers and around 40,000 workers in its facilities, which include laboratories, recreational spaces, restaurants with a wide variety of menus, and even temporary housing for visiting researchers. It has been designed with the well-being and satisfaction of employees in mind, creating an environment conducive to productivity and creativity.
The museum opens its doors from 10:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening and offers guided tours in various languages, including Spanish. Through this project, Samsung aims to generate new cultural experiences through innovation and convey knowledge from the past to inspire future generations. Thus, the technological giant allows visitors to take a walk through history and glimpse a future in which they continue to work to benefit consumers and make their lives easier and simpler.
