Наталя Хандусенко That's Life 25 March 2025, 17:56

Samsung Electronics co-CEO dies of heart attack at age 63

Samsung Electronics Co. Co-CEO Han Chung-hee, who transformed the Korean conglomerate into a leading global electronics company, has died. He was 63.

Leave a comment

Samsung Electronics co-CEO dies of heart attack at age 63

Samsung Electronics Co. Co-CEO Han Chung-hee, who transformed the Korean conglomerate into a leading global electronics company, has died. He was 63.

Han Chung-hee, a company veteran who began his career in the display division more than three decades ago, has played a key role in ousting Japanese rivals such as Sony Group Corp., Bloomberg reports .

Khan’s personal motto was «eternal No. 1,» and he was known for his strong work ethic and determination to overcome adversity, which epitomizes Samsung’s company culture.

After being promoted to vice president in 2021, he headed the so-called Device Experience division, overseeing Samsung’s TV, home appliance, and smartphone businesses.

Han recently took charge of integrating AI into most of Samsung’s products in anticipation of the boom in AI features for everyday use. Under his leadership, the company has installed AI chips in its refrigerators, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners.

His death comes at a crucial time for the company. The rapid rise of Chinese electronics brands that offer competitive features at lower prices poses a significant threat to Samsung’s market dominance. The Korean company is also trying to catch up with SK Hynix Inc. in AI memory and fend off rivals from the United States and China.

Last week, Han chaired Samsung’s annual shareholder meeting and spoke about the challenges facing the company. He told investors that 2025 would be a tough year, but the company would continue to pursue mergers and acquisitions to address growth challenges.

Han shared leadership responsibilities with Vice President Jun Young-hyun, who led the company’s core semiconductor business. Han was responsible for everything else at the major electronics maker.