Samsung Co-CEO Passes Away Just Days After Dual Leadership Announcement

Han Jong-hee, one of the Co-CEOs of Samsung, has died from a heart attack at the age of 63, as confirmed by the South Korean technology giant on Tuesday. His passing comes less than a week after the company appointed a second CEO, Jun Young-hyun, on March 19.

According to reports from the Korea Times, Han suffered a heart attack on Saturday following his daughter's wedding. He was subsequently taken to a Samsung hospital, where he succumbed to his condition on Tuesday morning.

Han Jong-hee had been with Samsung since 1988, holding various leadership roles primarily in the display and television sectors. In 2011, he took on the responsibility for research and development. He became one of Samsung's CEOs in 2022, alongside Kyung Kye-hyun, and was appointed vice chairman of the company. Following a restructuring in 2024, Han became the sole CEO until the recent appointment of his fellow executive.

With Han's death, Jun Young-hyun will now oversee the company's operations independently. Prior to this unfortunate event, Han was slated to introduce a range of AI-assisted home appliances on Wednesday, although sources indicate a replacement has already been found to take over those responsibilities.

Throughout his 37 years at Samsung, Han was a strong advocate for leveraging AI technology to foster sustainable growth within the organization. He emphasized the importance of understanding how consumers engage with AI, and he aimed to bolster Samsung's ventures in medical technology, robotics, automotive components, and environmentally friendly air conditioning solutions. His commitment and contributions to the company have earned him considerable respect and admiration within the industry.