Samsung Electronics Co-CEO Han Jong-hee Dies at 63

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Samsung Electronics co-CEO Han Jong-hee, known for elevating the company’s television business on the global stage, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 63 due to a heart attack, the company confirmed to AFP.

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

Han joined Samsung in 1988 and played a crucial role in establishing the brand’s reputation in the high-end TV market. He was instrumental in the development and launch of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs, helping solidify the company’s dominance in the global television industry.

“Han was central in the unveiling of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs,” the company highlighted in a biography published earlier this month, crediting him with multiple innovations that reinforced Samsung’s position as a technology leader.

Under Han’s leadership, Samsung maintained its status as the world’s top television manufacturer. Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung Group, remains the largest of South Korea’s family-controlled conglomerates.

Although Han was not a member of the founding Samsung family, he worked closely with its leadership, including third-generation chairman Lee Jae-yong, who currently heads Samsung Electronics.

His passing comes at a challenging time for the company, which is navigating difficulties in producing AI-related memory chips. Samsung has struggled to meet Nvidia’s requirements, while rival SK Hynix has emerged as the primary supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips for Nvidia’s AI processing units.

Amid these headwinds, Chairman Lee Jae-yong recently urged the company to adopt a “do-or-die” approach to stay competitive in the AI industry. Samsung previously acknowledged in October that it was facing a “crisis,” raising concerns about its long-term technological competitiveness and future growth.