Han Jong-hee, the Samsung Electronics executive who played a pivotal role in establishing the company as the world’s leading television manufacturer, has died at the age of 63, according to AP News.
Samsung confirmed that Han, who served as co-CEO and oversaw its consumer electronics and mobile divisions, passed away in hospital after suffering a heart attack.
A company veteran, Han joined Samsung in 1988 and spent much of his career in its television business, driving innovations that cemented its global dominance. His leadership saw Samsung TVs become synonymous with cutting-edge display technology, including QLED and MicroLED advancements.
In 2022, he was promoted to vice chairman and co-CEO, sharing leadership of the tech giant alongside Jun Young-hyun, who headed Samsung’s semiconductor division. Following Han’s death, Jun will now assume sole CEO responsibilities, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Samsung, one of the world’s largest electronics firms, operates with a dual leadership structure, balancing its component business (such as chips) with its consumer products division (including TVs and smartphones). Both divisions ultimately report to chairman Lee Jae-yong, the third-generation leader of the Samsung conglomerate.
Han’s death marks the loss of a key architect behind Samsung’s consumer electronics success. Tributes poured in from industry figures, with many crediting his strategic vision for keeping Samsung at the forefront of TV innovation amid fierce competition from rivals like LG and Sony.
