The influence of the recently deceased Samsung CEO

Mr. Han Jong-hee regularly appears at major technology events such as CES to talk about Samsung's products and strategies. Photo: Bloomberg .

On March 25, Mr. Han Jong-hee, Vice President and CEO of DX (Device Experience) Division of Samsung Electronics, passed away suddenly at the age of 63. Within the company, he was known as “Rhino” for his perseverance and constant efforts to overcome all challenges.

During his 37 years with the company, Mr. Han was instrumental in helping Samsung maintain its No. 1 position in the global TV market for 19 consecutive years. He also took charge of the company during difficult times and reshaped Samsung's global image.

Leader in many fields

Born on March 15, 1962 in Korea, Mr. Han Jung-hee studied Electronic Engineering at Inha University and joined the Visual Display (VS) business division of Samsung Electronics in 1988 right after graduation.

Mr. Han Jong-hee's experience in leadership positions. Photo: Samsung.

In 2013, he became Head of Research and Development (R&D) for the VS division. During his tenure, he oversaw key advances in display technology, driving innovation and enhancing the company's product portfolio.

In 2017, he was promoted to Head of Visual Display, where he implemented marketing strategies such as “QLED TV” targeting the premium TV market, helping Samsung maintain its No. 1 position in the global market for 17 consecutive years.

In 2021, Mr. Han took on the role of Head of Device Experience (DX) at Samsung, which merged Consumer Electronics (CE) and Mobile Devices (IM). Previously, each division had its own director. This was also a time when these two areas were severely affected by the global economic recession and competition from Chinese companies.

This milestone marks Mr. Han's expansion from TV to other areas. He and CEO Kyung Kye-hyun of Device Solutions (DS) have formed a "two-pillar" leadership structure, co-CEOs of Samsung.

Vice Chairman and Co-CEO Han Jong-hee speaks at Samsung's General Meeting of Shareholders on March 19. Photo: Reuters .

During that time, he focused on promoting the “Samsung Connectivity” strategy, aiming to create an ecosystem connecting AI, Internet of Things (IoT), 5G with TVs, phones, home appliances. Under his leadership, Samsung promoted AI, IoT, big data technologies, instead of focusing only on hardware.

Mr. Han was appointed Vice Chairman and Co-CEO of Samsung Electronics in 2022. In October of that year, he also assumed the position of Head of Digital Appliances.

At this time, he left a global mark with a speech positioning Samsung as not only a manufacturer of devices but also a leader in sustainable technology and smart connected experiences at CES in the US. Since then, he has been recognized as a strong leader with a clear strategy and has become an annual keynote speaker at CES.

Domestically, Mr. Han Jong-hee was reappointed as Chairman of the Korea Electronics & Information Industry Development Association (KEA) in 2024. He also visited Vietnam in 2022 to discuss Samsung's investment expansion in Vietnam.

Unfinished projects

Just a week before his death, Mr. Han was still actively working, checking on business situations abroad.

On March 19, at Samsung's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, he emphasized the importance of maintaining technological leadership, while pledging to invest in new areas such as robotics, medtech, and next-generation semiconductors to find growth drivers in the AI era.

Mr. Han has recently been directly in charge of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), one of Samsung's most important tasks. At the meeting, he said that results have not yet been achieved with large-scale transactions and pledged to bring more tangible results.

After the congress, he continued to visit the AWE 2025 home appliance exhibition in China to grasp market trends.

According to internal sources, there is currently no one in the company with the expertise and management capacity to immediately replace Mr. Han. The loss of one of the most important pillars has made the situation very difficult.

Han Jong-hee (left) and Kyung Kye-hyun form the company's "two-pillar" leadership structure. Photo: Samsung.

“Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee is a symbol of Samsung Electronics’ technological leadership and an influential leader in the global home appliance market. He always treats his family, colleagues, and young people in the company with warmth,” said a representative from Samsung Electronics.

Mr. Han is married with a son and two daughters. His funeral was held at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul on March 27 with the presence of Samsung Electronics leaders and his family.

Leader in many fields

Unfinished projects

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