Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics, passed away on March 25 at the age of 63.
According to Samsung Electronics, Han was urgently transported to the hospital after experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest during rest over the weekend but did not recover. The funeral service will be held in Room 17 of Samsung Medical Center's funeral hall, with the funeral procession scheduled for March 27.
Born in 1962, Han Jong-hee was known as a key figure in Samsung Electronics' television business, dedicating nearly 30 years specifically to TV development. He is credited as instrumental in establishing Samsung's global dominance in the television market. Han graduated from Cheonan High School and Inha University's Department of Electronic Engineering before joining Samsung Electronics in 1988. Over the years, he occupied several significant positions, including head of LCD TV Labs, Development Group, and Product Development Team, eventually rising to President of the Visual Display (VD) Business Division in 2017.
Throughout his career, Han led the development of multiple generations of TV technologies, from cathode ray tubes to LCD, 3D, and QLED, significantly contributing to Samsung's uninterrupted 19-year run as the world's leading TV brand since 2006.
Promoted to Vice Chairman in late 2021, Han expanded his role beyond televisions to oversee Samsung’s Device eXperience (DX) division, which includes home appliances and smartphones. In 2022, he was appointed CEO, directing company-wide responses to various crises and strategic future planning.
Han was notably committed to technology-driven management strategies. At CES 2025 earlier this year, he unveiled Samsung's vision for AI-based 'Home AI,' emphasizing seamless integration among devices for improved consumer experiences, which garnered significant industry attention.
During Samsung Electronics' annual shareholder meeting on March 19, Han highlighted technological competitiveness as essential for stock price recovery, pledging robust technological improvements for sustainable growth. Immediately following this, he undertook a business trip to China to participate in the Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE 2025), engaging in crucial meetings with local partners.
Han was also actively serving as head of the Digital Appliances (DA) division and was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at Samsung’s "Welcome to Bespoke AI" product launch event on March 26. His unexpected passing has deeply shocked the company and industry, altering the nature of this event.
Samsung Electronics expressed its condolences internally, commemorating Han’s 37 years of service and his critical role in leading global television market success and the DA business division, particularly during challenging internal and external conditions.
Since 2022, Han also chaired the Korea Electronics Association (KEA), spearheading the industry's digital transformation and restructuring. Recognizing his contributions, he received the prestigious Korean Academy of Engineering Award (27th edition) last year and had recently been reappointed as KEA Chairman.
Han is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.
