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Samsung Co-CEO Han Jong-hee Dies At 63

Published

23 hours ago

Mar 25, 2025.

Samsung co-CEO Han Jong-hee, a key figure in its TV business, has died.
His death comes as Samsung struggles with AI chip production challenges.
Chairman Lee Jae-yong urges a “do-or-die” strategy to tackle the crisis.

Samsung Electronics co-CEO, Han Jong-hee, widely recognized for elevating the company’s global television business, has passed away at the age of 63 due to cardiac arrest.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that a Samsung spokesperson confirmed Han’s sudden demise on Tuesday, stating that he is survived by his wife and three children. Han, who joined Samsung in 1988, played a crucial role in propelling the company’s high-end TV segment to international recognition.

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“Han was central in the unveiling of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs,” the company stated in a biography published earlier this month, crediting him with numerous innovations that reinforced Samsung’s leadership in television technology. Under his leadership, Samsung maintained its position as the global market leader in television production.

Samsung Electronics, the flagship subsidiary of the Samsung Group, is South Korea’s largest family-controlled conglomerate, with its operations overseen by third-generation leader Lee Jae-yong. Though not a member of the founding family, Han was instrumental in driving the company’s dominance in the tech industry.

Han’s passing comes at a critical time for Samsung, as the world’s largest memory chipmaker faces mounting challenges in the artificial intelligence sector. The company has reportedly struggled to meet the requirements of Nvidia, while rival SK Hynix has secured its position as Nvidia’s main supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips for AI graphics processing units.

These difficulties have led Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong to call for a “do-or-die” approach to overcome the challenges posed by AI, as reported by the media last week. In October, Samsung admitted to facing a “crisis,” acknowledging concerns about its “fundamental technological competitiveness and the future of the company.”

Samsung Co-CEO Han Jong-hee Dies At 63

Han’s legacy in television innovation remains a crucial part of Samsung’s success story, even as the company navigates the rapidly evolving tech landscape.