Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-Hee has passed away at the age of 63 after suffering massive heart attack, the company confirmed on Tuesday, March 25.
Han, who also served as a board member, suffered cardiac arrest and was receiving treatment at a hospital when he passed away, a Samsung spokesperson stated.
The company has yet to announce a successor.
“He died from cardiac arrest today,” the spokesperson said, adding that Han is survived by his wife and three children.
Appointed as CEO in 2022, Han led South Korea’s largest company while overseeing its consumer electronics and mobile devices division.
He was widely credited with elevating Samsung’s television business on the global stage.
Joining Samsung in 1988, Han played a pivotal role in gaining international recognition for the company’s high-end TV sets.
“Han was central in the unveiling of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs,” Samsung highlighted in a company biography published earlier this month.
“His numerous innovations enabled the company to continually demonstrate its technological leadership,” it added.
Under Han’s leadership, Samsung televisions reached the top of the global market and maintained their dominance.
Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary of South Korea’s Samsung Group, is a leading entity within the country’s family-controlled conglomerates, which play a significant role in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
The company operates under a co-CEO structure, dividing responsibilities between its consumer electronics and semiconductor divisions.
Han dedicated nearly four decades of his career to Samsung’s television business and was instrumental in shaping its global influence.
“Han was a key figure behind making Samsung’s TV business a powerhouse on the international stage,” said an analyst who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. “His sudden passing could have long-term implications for Samsung’s business strategy, particularly in areas like marketing.”
Han was not part of the founding Samsung family, as the company remains under the leadership of third-generation heir Lee Jae-yong.
Han’s passing could impact Samsung’s ability to maintain its leading position in the global TV market, according to Kim Dae-Jong, a business administration professor at Sejong University in Seoul.
“Given his decades of deep involvement in Samsung’s TV business, his absence could influence the company’s global strategy for years to come,” Dae-Jong told AFP.
