Samsung Co-CEO Han Jong-Hee Dies of Cardiac Arrest at 63

HONG KONG – Han Jong-Hee, co-CEO of South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics, has died at the age of 63, the company confirmed on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Samsung stated that his death was due to cardiac arrest.

Born in 1962, Han had been a key figure at Samsung, overseeing its consumer electronics and mobile devices businesses since 2022. In the same year, he was appointed as Samsung Electronics vice chairman and CEO. His passing comes shortly after the appointment of Jun Young-Hyun as co-CEO last week.

Following Han’s death, Jun Young-Hyun, who has been leading Samsung’s semiconductor business, will now assume the role of the company’s sole CEO, according to the spokesperson.

In an internal message obtained by CNN, Samsung paid tribute to Han, recognizing his over 37 years of dedication to the company. The message highlighted his pivotal role in transforming Samsung’s TV business into a global leader and his contributions to the growth of its electronics and appliances divisions amidst a challenging economic climate. “Our deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the company stated.

Han’s passing comes at a time when Samsung Electronics has faced significant headwinds. Its logic semiconductor business lags behind industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and its memory chip business, traditionally a strength, has reportedly fallen behind South Korean rival Hynix in the crucial high bandwidth memory (HBM) technology market. This lag has contributed to recent declines in Samsung’s share price.

During an annual investor meeting last week, chaired by Han, he had apologized for the company’s stock performance and cautioned about a difficult 2025, citing uncertainties in major economies’ economic policies. He also indicated Samsung’s intent to pursue “meaningful” mergers and acquisitions this year to bolster growth, acknowledging the challenges in the semiconductor sector due to regulatory issues and national interests.

Han joined Samsung in 1988 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Inha University. Prior to his role as co-CEO, he led the company’s display operation and was credited with being “central” to the rollout of Samsung’s LED TVs, among other innovations that helped the company maintain its “technology leadership,” according to a Samsung biography published last week.