Han Jong-hee, vice chairman of the CEO of Samsung Electronics [Yonhap Photo]
[BizCheck=Chung Goo-hak] Han Jong-hee, 63, vice chairman of the CEO of Samsung Electronics and one of the “living witnesses of TV development,” died of cardiac arrest in the early hours of Friday.
Han married his daughter at the Shilla Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 22, and reportedly drank heavily with guests at the wedding. After returning home, he suddenly collapsed at home and was urgently hospitalized at Seoul Samsung Medical Center late Saturday night, but never regained consciousness. The initial cause of death is believed to be cardiac arrest, and the exact circumstances are being determined by medical staff.
Vice Chairman Han has reportedly been drinking frequently to communicate with employees.
Until recently, he had been actively engaged in public appearances, including attending Samsung Electronics' shareholders' meetings, so the news of his death is spreading shock among the business community and society at large.
The deceased joined Samsung Electronics in 1988 after graduating from Cheonan High School and Inha University's electronics department, and worked for the company for 37 years, rising to the position of vice chairman and CEO. He was a key leader who led the transformation of Samsung's TV technology, including LCD TVs, QLED TVs, and 3D TVs, and led the company's TV division to become the world's No. 1 for 19 consecutive years. He was also a symbol of the “salaryman myth,” rising from an entry-level employee to CEO.
At the shareholders' meeting held on the 19th, he took the podium himself and promised to “restore technological competitiveness and boost the stock price this year,” showing a strong sense of responsibility. Immediately after the shareholders' meeting, he traveled to Shanghai, China, to attend a major consumer electronics exhibition (AWE 2025). On the 26th, he was scheduled to take the stage as a keynote speaker at the 'Bispoke AI' new product unveiling event.
A financial insider expressed regret, saying, “It seems that his health deteriorated rapidly due to heavy drinking after a family event while preparing for the shareholders' meeting and traveling overseas.”
Samsung Electronics expressed its deepest condolences in an internal notice, saying, “The deceased worked with dedication for the past 37 years, leading Samsung's TV business to the top of the global rankings, and did his best in charge of the set and home appliance divisions under difficult internal and external conditions.”
Han has been chairman of the Korea Electronics & Telecommunications Industry Association (KEA) since 2022, contributing to the establishment of future strategies for the electronics industry, and was honored with the Korea Advanced Institute of Engineering and Technology Grand Prize last year. Recently reappointed as chairman of the KEA, he has served as the industry's centerpiece in the midst of digital transformation.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. His body is being held in Room 17 of the Samsung Medical Center Funeral Home, and his wake is scheduled for July 27th. Burial is at Xi'an Family Memorial Park.X
ghchung@naver.com