Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and CEO Han Jong-hee passed away from a heart attack at the age of 63, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
According to industry sources, Han suffered a heart attack over the weekend while resting and succumbed to the condition early Tuesday morning.
Han had been engaged in a hectic schedule leading up to his passing and was scheduled to unveil Samsung’s latest artificial intelligence (AI)-powered home appliances at an upcoming presentation.
His funeral will take place at the medical center until Thursday. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.
Born in 1962, Han was a key figure in Samsung’s dominance of the global TV market. A graduate of Inha University’s Department of Electronic Engineering, he joined Samsung Electronics in 1988 and played a crucial role in shaping its display business. Under his leadership, Samsung surpassed Sony to become the world’s largest TV manufacturer in 2006, maintaining its market lead for 19 consecutive years.
Han rose through the ranks to become president of the visual display division in 2017 before being appointed vice chairman in 2021, overseeing Samsung’s Device Experience (DX) division, which includes TVs, home appliances, and smartphones. Han was appointed co-vice chairman and CEO in 2022 alongside Kyung Kye-hyun.
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