Samsung Electronics Co-CEO Han Jong-Hee has died at the age of 63, the company confirmed.
A Samsung spokesperson stated that Han passed away from cardiac arrest, adding that he is survived by his wife and three children.
Han joined Samsung in 1988 and played a crucial role in elevating the company’s high-end TV market presence worldwide.
“Han was central to the unveiling of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs,” the company noted in a biography published earlier this month.
Samsung credited Han with leading innovations that solidified the company’s position as a global technology leader, helping its television business reach and maintain the top spot in the global market.
Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary of South Korea’s largest conglomerate, remains under the leadership of Lee Jae-yong, a third-generation heir of the founding family. Han, unlike many top executives, was not a member of the Samsung family but was instrumental in driving the company’s technological advancements.
His passing comes at a challenging time for Samsung, as it faces growing competition in the AI-driven semiconductor industry. The company has struggled to meet Nvidia’s requirements for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, while rival SK Hynix has emerged as Nvidia’s primary supplier.
Samsung’s chairman, Lee Jae-yong, recently urged the company to adopt a “do-or-die” approach to address its AI-related challenges. In October, Samsung acknowledged it was facing a “crisis”, with concerns about its technological competitiveness and long-term future.
Han’s contributions to Samsung’s global dominance in consumer electronics leave behind a lasting legacy in the tech industry.
AFP
