Samsung Electronics has announced the sudden death of co-CEO Han Jong-hee, 63, who suffered a cardiac arrest at a hospital. Han, a veteran executive who had been with the company for nearly 40 years, was a key figure in Samsung’s global consumer electronics strategy.
Han, who joined Samsung in 1988, rose through the ranks to become a critical leader in the company’s television and mobile device divisions. He was appointed co-CEO in 2022 and was instrumental in positioning Samsung as a global leader in TV technology.
Just a week before his death, Han chaired Samsung’s annual shareholders meeting, where he candidly addressed the company’s challenges. He apologized for the company’s poor stock performance and warned of potential difficulties in 2025 due to economic uncertainties and trade tensions.
Following Han’s passing, Jun Young-hyun, who was appointed co-CEO in November, will now serve as the sole CEO. Jun previously led Samsung’s semiconductor division, which has been struggling to compete with rivals in the artificial intelligence chip market.
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Han’s unexpected death comes at a critical time for Samsung, which has been facing significant challenges in its semiconductor and mobile device businesses. The company has fallen behind competitors like TSMC and SK Hynix in advanced chip technologies and lost its smartphone market leadership to Apple.
Samsung expressed deep condolences, praising Han’s decades-long contribution to the company’s growth and global expansion. Han was scheduled to attend a product launch for new home appliances this week before his untimely death.
