6. Octopus

Samsung’s rise to global prominence relied on aggressive branding and a ruthless pursuit of quality, exemplified by its strategic product placement in *The Matrix* to challenge Sony’s market dominance. Chairman K.H. Lee’s obsession with perfection, marked by the public destruction of faulty products, fueled this expansion but also entangled the conglomerate in deep-seated corruption. The "Samsung X-Files" scandal, triggered by leaked wiretaps, exposed systemic bribery of South Korean prosecutors and politicians. Despite the gravity of these revelations, the company avoided significant legal consequences, with the political establishment prioritizing Samsung’s economic importance over accountability. Meanwhile, the whistleblowers—including a prominent lawmaker and journalists—faced prosecution for violating wiretapping laws, highlighting the immense influence the conglomerate wielded over the nation’s legal and political infrastructure.