Samsung Electronics has announced the sudden death of co-CEO Han Jong-hee, who passed away from a heart attack on Tuesday. He was 63. His death comes at a critical time for the company, as it faces mounting challenges in the global semiconductor and smartphone industries.
Han had been leading Samsung’s consumer electronics and mobile devices division since 2022 and had spent nearly 40 years with the company. He was well known for helping establish Samsung’s dominance in the global television market.
Just last week, Samsung appointed Jun Young-hyun as co-CEO during its annual shareholders’ meeting. With Han’s passing, Jun now becomes the sole chief executive of the South Korean tech giant.
Jun, who led Samsung’s semiconductor division from 2024, now oversees all business operations. His promotion came as the company continues to fall behind rivals like SK Hynix and TSMC in the fast-growing artificial intelligence chip market.
Samsung confirmed the leadership change in a regulatory filing. The company’s shares fell by 0.5% after the announcement, reflecting broader market declines in South Korea.
The tech giant, known as the world’s largest memory chipmaker, has seen a tough period recently. It lost its top spot in smartphone sales to Apple and reported reduced earnings, worsened by delays in advanced chip development and contract manufacturing.
Han had acknowledged the challenges at last week’s meeting, especially in light of new U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump. He pledged to use Samsung’s global supply chain to adapt, but his sudden absence leaves uncertainty about the company’s next steps.
Han was also expected to attend the launch of new Samsung home appliances this week. His passing could affect strategic directions in the company’s marketing and home electronics units, which face increasing pressure due to trade and geopolitical risks.
Meanwhile, Samsung chairman Jay Y. Lee, who is currently in China, visited key automotive electronics firms such as Xiaomi and BYD, signaling a potential push into that market. The company declined to comment on Lee’s visit.
Lee, who inherited control of Samsung following his father’s heart attack in 2014, continues to face legal issues, though he was recently cleared of succession-related charges—a ruling prosecutors have appealed.
Samsung now faces the dual challenge of mourning a long-time leader while pushing forward in a fiercely competitive global tech landscape.
