March 25, 2025 — Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman and Co-CEO of Samsung Electronics, has passed away at the age of 63 due to a heart attack, according to South Korean media reports. Han reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest on March 22 after attending his daughter's wedding and was rushed to Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, where he was later pronounced dead.

Born in 1962, Han graduated from Cheonan High School and Inha University, majoring in electronic engineering. He joined Samsung Electronics in 1988 as part of the Visual Display Division, where he became a pivotal figure behind Samsung's global dominance in the TV market for 19 consecutive years. He held key roles, including head of the LCD TV laboratory, product development leader, and eventually, in 2017, was promoted to President of the Visual Display Division.

Han was appointed Vice Chairman and Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division in late 2021, overseeing Samsung's TV, home appliances, and smartphone businesses. He played a crucial role in driving technological innovations and expanding Samsung's leadership in both domestic and international markets.

Just days before his passing, Han attended Samsung's 56th Annual Shareholders Meeting on March 19 at Suwon Convention Center, where he acknowledged the tough global business environment. He apologized for the company's underperformance in key markets like AI semiconductors, smartphones, TVs, and home appliances, vowing to work hard to improve shareholder value. Han referenced Samsung's 10 trillion won (approximately $7.5 billion) stock buyback in November 2024 to ease concerns about the company's undervaluation and pledged 9.8 trillion won ($7.3 billion) in dividends for 2025.

Han also addressed the company's stalled progress on major mergers and acquisitions, stating that while efforts continue, no significant breakthroughs had been made yet. He promised to pursue more meaningful M&A deals this year to drive growth.

Just days before his passing, Han visited Shanghai for the AWE 2025 (Appliance & Electronics World Expo), held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. He toured Samsung's exhibition space and led a team to explore opportunities in the Chinese consumer market. On March 20, Han visited Suning.com, one of Samsung's longest-standing strategic partners in China. He expressed confidence in the partnership's future, highlighting plans to deepen collaboration, expand AI technology integration, and grow in both high-end and lower-tier markets to unlock new consumer demand.

Han's sudden passing marks a significant loss for Samsung Electronics and the global tech industry. His leadership and vision shaped Samsung's trajectory across multiple sectors, leaving a lasting legacy in consumer electronics, innovation, and international market expansion.