Samsung's Co-CEO, Han Jong-Hee, Passes Away at the Age of 63
Farewell to Samsung's Colorful Visionary, Han Jong-Hee
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when it's to a man who leaves a colossal impact like Han Jong-Hee. The renowned co-CEO of South Korea's tech titan, Samsung Electronics, tragically passed away on Tuesday following a cardiac arrest. He was 63 years old.
Born in 1962, Han embarked on a remarkable journey with Samsung in 1988, after earning a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Inha University2. He steadily climbed the corporate ladder, overseeing Samsung's consumer electronics and mobile devices businesses since 20221. In an unexpected turn of events, he was named vice chairman and co-CEO in 2022. His counterpart in the co-CEO role, Jun Young-Hyun, headlines the semiconductor division.
In an internal tribute, Samsung acknowledged Han's invaluable contributions, stating he led Samsung's TV business to global dominance with his unwavering dedication spanning more than 37 years. His strategic decisions and innovative ideas undeniably played a significant role in driving the growth of Samsung's electronics and appliances businesses amid challenging economic climates1.
Currently, Samsung is grappling with headwinds in its semiconductor business, lagging behind industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in terms of cutting-edge chip production and major customer acquisition1. Han shared these concerns during an investor meeting last week, apologizing for the performance of Samsung's stock and predicting a bumpy 2025 due to economic policy uncertainties1. To counter these obstacles, Han vowed to pursue "meaningful" mergers and acquisitions in 20231.
As for the future of Samsung, no official announcement has been made regarding Han's successor. Jun Young-Hyun is expected to shoulder the responsibilities that Han once held1. Han was instrumental in launching Samsung's LED TVs and other groundbreaking innovations which cemented Samsung's reputation as a technology trendsetter1.
This story has been updated with additional reporting and context.
- Han Jong-Hee, the tech-savvy CEO of Samsung Electronics, unfortunately died from cardiac arrest.
- Despite his tragic passing, Han's contributions to Samsung's business, particularly in the semiconductor and consumer electronics sectors, remain significant and will be felt for years to come.
- Samsung's prospects for the future remain uncertain as they grapple with challenges in their semiconductor business, with CEO Han's strategic ideas and innovative approaches likely to be missed in this sector.
