Bonus: Introducing Inheritance: Samsung

Bonus: Introducing Inheritance: Samsung

Author: BBC World Service April 11, 2026 Duration: 26:00

When the Samsung Chairman has a heart attack, his heir is pushed into the spotlight. The complex manoeuvring to secure his succession re-opens old family wounds, prompts one of the biggest scandals in South Korea’s history, and – eventually – helps to bring down a President.

Everyone’s heard of Samsung: more than a billion people have one of their smartphones . This is the drama behind the tech giant that changed the world.

From a fruit and vegetable store to a global empire, Samsung’s story is more than business—it’s an epic family saga. Behind the success lies a dynasty driven by ambition, wealth, tradition and rivalries, where power struggles shaped not just the company but South Korea’s economy.

In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors- inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.

You can hear episode 1 right here but for the whole series search "Inheritance: Samsung" wherever you get your podcasts.

Host: Elise Hu

Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams

Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang

Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons

Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King.

Series Editor: Matt Willis

With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and, also, Mary Wilkinson.

Senior Commissioning Producer: Sarah Green

Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio Production


Behind the headlines and market numbers, there’s a human story. Business Daily from the BBC World Service digs into those stories, exploring how the forces of money and work shape lives and communities across the globe. This isn't just a recap of financial news; it’s about the tangible impact of economic decisions, from a factory floor in Vietnam to a tech startup in Nairobi. Each episode focuses on a single, compelling narrative, offering a clear and thorough examination of how business and economics function in the real world. You’ll hear directly from the people involved-entrepreneurs facing unexpected hurdles, workers adapting to new industries, and analysts deciphering local trends with global consequences. The reporting is grounded and precise, reflecting the BBC’s commitment to depth and clarity. By focusing on the daily drama inherent in our economic systems, this podcast makes the vast subject of business feel immediate and personal. Tune in for a thoughtful perspective that connects economic concepts to everyday reality, providing a deeper understanding of the world through the lens of commerce and labor.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Business Daily
Podcast Episodes
Is Poland’s “economic miracle” for real? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:43
Poland’s economy is expected to be the fastest-growing in Europe this year according to the European Union, with the spending power of its average worker on course to overtake that of Japan.So how, three and a half decad…
The ex-ballerina betting big on prediction markets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
In our first edition of Meet the Founders, we meet Luana Lopes Lara, creator of Kalshi, a prediction markets startup that allows users to trade on the outcome of real-world events - from inflation and interest rates to e…
Japan's economic crossroads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
As Japanese people prepare to head to the polls, economic concerns are back at the centre of public life.We explore how inflation, wages, demographics and geopolitics are shaping expectations, and whether the country can…
Spain's economic case for more migration [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
The Spanish government has announced plans to legalise the status of half a million undocumented migrants. Many arrive with student or tourist visas but overstay and start working on the black market. Migration is a pola…
Gates Foundation CEO on cuts to global aid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:00
As governments cut back on how much they spend on global aid, the head of the Gates Foundation Mark Suzman speaks exclusively to Business Daily about how the world’s poorest are being affected. He tells us world governme…
Can Starbucks regain its buzz? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
It’s probably the world’s best-known coffee chain but just over a year ago, business wasn’t doing well. Sales had slipped, customers were drifting away and the buzz had gone. Newly-arrived CEO Brian Niccol was handed a t…
The man who built Africa's largest AI firm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:14
From the deserts of Tunisia to the boardrooms of global tech giants, we meet Karim Beguir, the mathematician who turned two laptops and 2000 dollars into Africa’s biggest AI firm. We hear how his company, Instadeep, caug…
Why you buy what you buy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:23
We lift the curtain on how everyone from toothpaste brands to the United Nations is using science to influence your choices in ways you’re probably not aware of. Behavioural science has even made its way into TV drama. H…
Copper theft: A growing economic problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
Demand has been surging for copper around the world - from renewable energy projects, to AI data centres, to infrastructure networks. Production, however, has struggled to keep pace, pushing prices close to record highs…
How country music became cool [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:21
Country music is in the midst of a grand renaissance. The genre - whose popularity was previously confined to the American South - is now climbing the charts, grabbing the attention of Gen Z audiences, and changing the p…