Han Jonghee, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, Passes Away
Mentioned Shortly After Lee Jaeyong's 'Do or Die' Resolution
A New Beginning Amid Crisis
Determined to Reflect on Himself
"I believe technology is the reason for a company's existence. A company without technology should neither exist nor be created." (March 12)
"I will start by changing the mindset of the management to do better. I will ensure that change happens." (March 17)
These are the last remarks left by Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, before his passing. In two phone calls with reporters on the 12th and 17th of March, he spoke about the essence of technology and the attitude of management amid a crisis. Especially, his statement on the 17th came shortly after Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong expressed a ‘do or die’ resolve, revealing a strong determination to reflect on himself and start anew in the face of adversity.
Vice Chairman Han graduated from Cheonan High School and Inha University’s Department of Electronic Engineering. He joined Samsung Electronics’ Visual Display Business Division development team in 1988 and worked for over 30 years in the TV development department, holding positions such as LCD TV lab head, development group leader, product development team leader, and development director. Since 2017, he served as the head of the Visual Display Business Division (President).
He was a symbolic figure in Samsung Electronics’ TV business. Those around him described him as "a person who is sincere and steadfast in one thing." No one denied his passion and dedication to the TV field. He was a living witness who experienced every generation from CRT TVs to Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TVs, Light Emitting Diode (LED) TVs, and MicroLED TVs. After serving as development team leader, product development team leader, and LCD TV lab head, he took charge of the Visual Display Business Division from 2017, contributing to Samsung TV maintaining the world’s number one position for 19 consecutive years.
In 2021, he was promoted to Vice Chairman and appointed head of the Device Experience (DX) division, leading Samsung Electronics’ entire set business. This was a personnel move accompanied by the company’s official trust and recognition. Vice Chairman Han had recently felt a sense of crisis due to the rapid pursuit by Chinese companies such as TCL. He warned that the technological gap in the home appliance sector was quickly narrowing and had been contemplating how to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into TVs and other home appliances in the AI era.
He was always present at overseas sites. Until recently, he personally visited global home appliance exhibitions such as ‘CES 2025’ held in Las Vegas, USA, in January, and ‘AWE 2025’ held in Shanghai, China, on the 20th of this month, sensing the changes firsthand. In a situation where warning signs were detected in both semiconductors and home appliances, he was the first to step forward to explain Samsung Electronics’ situation both internally and externally.
A giant who embodied the flow of Samsung TV technology from CRT to MicroLED and a symbol of global Samsung has departed. He was 63 years old. The funeral hall is set up at Samsung Seoul Hospital Funeral Hall, Room 17. The funeral procession will be on the 27th, and the burial site is Sian Family Memorial Park.
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