Han Jong-hee, vice chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, died of a heart attack, the company confirmed on Mar. 25. He reportedly collapsed on Mar. 22 and was transported to Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, where he later passed away.
Han led the Device Experience (DX) division—one of the company’s two main business units—and played a pivotal role in overseeing the Digital Appliances (DA) business. Born in 1962, he earned a degree in electronic engineering from Inha University and joined Samsung in 1988 as part of the TV development team. Over his 37-year tenure, he was widely regarded as a key figure in the television industry.
In November 2017, Han was appointed head of the Visual Display Business, where he was credited with helping Samsung maintain its position as the world’s leading TV manufacturer for 15 consecutive years. In recognition of his contributions, he was promoted to vice chairman and CEO in 2021, taking the helm of the SET division, which combines the IT & Mobile (IM) and Consumer Electronics (CE) divisions.
At the company’s 56th annual general meeting on Mar. 19, Han outlined his vision for Samsung’s future. “We will lay the groundwork for a new leap forward in our existing businesses with super-gap technology leadership,” he said, “and continue to pursue new challenges across diverse fields—including robotics, medtech, and next-generation semiconductors—to secure future growth engines driven by the rise of AI.”
Han had been scheduled to deliver a keynote address at “Welcome to Bespoke AI,” Samsung’s largest home appliance event of the year, on Mar. 26. However, on Mar. 24, the company announced a change in speakers, citing Han’s sudden health emergency. The keynote will instead be delivered by executives from the DA business’s development division.
In an internal announcement, Samsung Electronics shared news of his passing, stating, “We mourn the loss of a man who dedicated 37 years of service to our company.” The company added, “He led the global TV business to the No. 1 position and gave his utmost as head of the SET division and DA business, even amid challenging internal and external conditions.”
