Unexpected Attention Amid Patent Dispute Between the Two Companies
Changed His Name After Feeling Pressure From Viral Online Meme
A former employee at the Apple Store in Vancouver, Canada, reportedly changed his name because his real name, "Sam Sung," reminded people of rival company Samsung Electronics.
On October 22 (local time), Business Insider, a U.S. media outlet, reported the story of Sam Struan, a 36-year-old from Scotland who now works as a resume consultant.
Sam Struan, who became a topic of conversation due to his real name "Sam Sung" while working at the Apple Store. Photo captured from Business Insider
In 2012, when he was working at the Apple Store, Samsung Electronics and Apple were engaged in a patent lawsuit. During this period, a photo of Struan's business card was posted on social networking services (SNS) and quickly became a hot topic. The card featured the Apple logo and the title "Sam Sung, Specialist," and it rapidly spread as a meme in online communities.
Struan recalled, "At first, all the attention felt frightening." Having just moved to Canada and started his career, he said, "My first concern was the possibility of being fired." In fact, after the business card began circulating, reporters and visitors came to the store, and the company temporarily removed him from store duties to prevent confusion. His colleagues also advised him to hide his real name.
Eventually, Struan left Apple the following year and transitioned to the recruitment consulting field. He explained that he experienced practical inconveniences as the name "Sam Sung" was already widely used when creating social media accounts and email addresses.
He also felt discomfort that his name became a subject of jokes online, regardless of his personal achievements or abilities. Afterwards, he legally changed his surname to "Struan," inspired by a place name in Scotland.
In 2014, Struan auctioned off his Apple Store business card and part of his uniform for charity, donating about $2,500 (approximately 3.6 million won). He said, "At the time, it was overwhelming, but in the end, it was meaningful that it could be connected to a good cause." However, reflecting on that period, he added, "I was overly anxious when I became a topic of conversation. I wish I had taken it a bit more lightly."
It is reported that some friends and family still call him "Sam Sung." Struan stated that he has no regrets about changing his name, saying, "Now, I want to build my career under my own name, regardless of any particular brand image."
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