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Following the sudden passing of Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee, Samsung Electronics has transitioned to a sole CEO system under Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun, replacing the previous dual CEO structure. The announcement was made today (25th), according to South Korean media outlets hankooki and Financial Post.
Han, 63, passed away suddenly from a heart attack after attending a family event on the 22nd, according to media reports.
From TV Expert to Company Helmsman
As per Chosun Daily, with expertise on TV development, Han played a key role in Samsung’s 19-year reign as the global TV leader. Joining in 1988, Han rose through the ranks, becoming Vice Chairman in 2021 and heading the DX department eventually, the report adds.
Notably, Samsung had been operating under a dual CEO system for a while. According to the Chosun Daily, Han, after promoted to Vice Chairman, formed a two-top system with Kyung Kye-hyun, then head of the DS Division and succeeded by Jeon Young-hyun in 2024.
Chosun Daily notes that during Han’s tenure, he oversaw TV, home appliances, and smartphones. Recently, Han also spearheaded efforts to strengthen Samsung’s semiconductor business in preparation for the AI era and revive the competitiveness of smartphones.
According to the Financial Post, Han was a key figure in Samsung’s leadership under Chairman Lee Jae-yong, alongside Vice Chairmen Jeon Young-hyun (Semiconductor Division) and Jeong Hyun-ho (Business Support TF), forming the company’s “three-head system.”
The report adds that Han’s role grew significantly in 2024, with Samsung also naming him as chairman of the Quality Innovation Committee.
Samsung’s Challenges ahead
Therefore, Han’s sudden passing has left Samsung searching for a successor to stabilize its management, but finding an immediate replacement will be tough, as noted by the Chosun Daily.
The struggling giant faces multiple challenges, including catching up with SK hynix in the HBM race. According to Alpha Economy, Samsung aims to secure NVIDIA’s qualification for its 8-layer and 12-layer HBM3E between late May and early June, while SK hynix reportedly plans to submit 16-layer HBM3e samples to NVIDIA in early 2025 for certification.
On the foundry side, Samsung will likely begin Exynos 2600 production in May, working to improve 2nm GAA yields for its Galaxy S26 SoC and attract more customers, reports Wccftech.
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(Photo credit: Samsung)
