Samsung Co-CEO Han Jong-hee Dies Of Heart Attack At 63

Samsung Electronics’ co-CEO Han Jong-hee passed away from a heart attack on Tuesday, March 25, at the age of 63, the company confirmed to AFP. Han, who also served on the company’s board, died at a hospital while being treated for cardiac arrest, a Samsung spokesperson said.

“He died from cardiac arrest today,” the spokesperson stated, adding that Han is survived by his wife and three children.

A Legacy of Innovation and Global Impact

Han became the chief executive officer of South Korea's largest company in 2022, overseeing its consumer electronics and mobile devices division. He was widely credited with elevating Samsung’s television business to the top of the global market.

Han joined Samsung in 1988 and played a pivotal role in establishing the company’s dominance in the high-end TV sector. His work was central to the launch of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs, which helped cement the company’s reputation for technological innovation.

“Han was instrumental in unveiling Samsung’s world-class LED TVs,” the company noted in a biography published earlier this month. “His numerous other innovations enabled the company to continually demonstrate its technology leadership.”

Samsung praised Han for taking its TV business “to the pinnacle of the global market” and ensuring it remained there.

Impact on Samsung’s Future Strategy

Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung group, South Korea’s largest family-controlled conglomerate, which dominates Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The company operates under a co-CEO structure, splitting oversight of its consumer electronics and semiconductor divisions.

Han’s unexpected death raises questions about Samsung’s future business strategy. "Han was the key figure behind making Samsung’s TV business influential on a global scale," said an industry analyst who requested anonymity. "With his sudden passing, there could be long-term effects on Samsung’s business strategy, particularly in areas like marketing."

Kim Dae-Jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University in Seoul, echoed these concerns. “Considering Han’s deep involvement in Samsung’s TV business for decades, his absence could affect the company’s global strategy for years to come,” Kim told AFP.

Although Han was not part of the Samsung founding family, his contributions were instrumental in shaping the company’s global success. Samsung’s current leader, Lee Jae-yong, the third-generation head of the founding family, now faces the challenge of maintaining the company’s dominance without one of its key strategists.

Han’s death marks a significant loss for Samsung and the global tech industry, leaving a void that will be difficult to fill.