When did Han Jong-hee die?

Samsung Electronics is mourning the sudden passing of its co-CEO, Han Jong-hee, who died of a heart attack on March 25, 2025. His unexpected demise leaves newly appointed co-CEO Jun Young-hyun solely at the helm as the company faces challenges in its semiconductor business and global trade uncertainties.

What had Han Jong-hee done for Samsung?

Han Jong-hee, 63, had been with Samsung for nearly four decades and became CEO in 2022, overseeing the consumer electronics and mobile devices division. His death comes just a week after Jun Young-hyun was appointed co-CEO at Samsung’s annual shareholders meeting. Jun, who was promoted in 2024 to lead Samsung’s semiconductor division, now takes full leadership as the company attempts to reclaim its position in the AI chip market, where it lags behind competitors such as SK Hynix and TSMC.

Samsung confirmed in a stock exchange filing that Jun would be the sole CEO moving forward. Traditionally, the company has maintained a co-CEO structure to separately manage its consumer electronics and semiconductor businesses. Han’s passing raises questions about the company’s future direction, especially in consumer electronics and marketing strategies.

Did the death of Han Jong-hee drop Samsung shares?

Following the news, Samsung’s shares dropped 0.5 percent, mirroring the broader South Korean market. The company has struggled with declining earnings and a weakening stock price, primarily due to falling behind in the advanced memory chip and contract chip manufacturing sectors. Additionally, Samsung has lost its position as the world’s leading smartphone seller to Apple.

During the recent shareholders’ meeting, Han acknowledged the challenges ahead, predicting that 2025 would be a difficult year. He assured investors that Samsung would adapt to potential tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump through its global supply chain and manufacturing footprint. However, Samsung’s failure to capitalize on the AI boom has been a major concern for shareholders, making it one of the worst-performing tech stocks in the past year.

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How did he join Samsung?

Han began his career at Samsung in the television division and played a crucial role in making the company a global leader in the industry. Analysts believe his absence could impact Samsung’s long-term strategy, particularly in marketing and home appliances, which are key growth areas amid increasing trade uncertainties.

At the time of his death, Han was scheduled to attend Samsung’s home appliance launch event on March 26. His contributions to Samsung’s TV business and broader consumer electronics division will be remembered as integral to the company’s global influence.

Who is Jun Young-hyun?

Jun Young-hyun is the newly appointed sole CEO of Samsung Electronics, taking over after the passing of Han Jong-hee. With a strong background in semiconductor technology, Jun has played a key role in Samsung’s advancements in memory chips. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering from Hanyang University and both a master’s and a doctorate in electronics engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Since joining Samsung in 2000, he has contributed significantly to the development of DRAM and Flash memory, later leading the Memory Business division in 2014.

Under his leadership, Samsung successfully launched advanced DRAM and V-NAND products. From 2017 to 2022, he served as CEO of Samsung SDI, overseeing the company’s battery business before returning to Samsung Electronics in 2024 to lead the Device Solutions Division. His extensive experience and strategic leadership are expected to help Samsung regain its competitive edge in the semiconductor industry amid increasing global challenges.

Who Was Han Jong-hee?

Han Jong-hee was a veteran executive at Samsung, dedicating nearly 40 years to the company. He played a pivotal role in shaping Samsung’s dominance in the television industry and later led its consumer electronics and mobile divisions. His leadership was marked by an emphasis on innovation and strategic global expansion. Han’s unexpected passing leaves a significant gap in Samsung’s leadership, especially at a time when the company is striving to regain its competitive edge in AI and semiconductor technology.