It’s a rough day for the tech world, and an even tougher one for Samsung. Jong-Hee Han, the co-CEO and vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, passed away earlier today at the age of 63. The news hit like a gut punch—Han had suffered a massive heart attack just a few days ago and, despite being rushed to one of South Korea’s top medical facilities, he didn’t make it through. He was receiving treatment at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul when he took his last breath.

Samsung confirmed the loss in an internal memo to employees, a message that’s already making the rounds online. “We pray for the peace of the deceased who devoted 37 years to the company,” the note read, according to reports. It went on to praise Han’s legacy: “The deceased led the global TV business to be number one and did their utmost as the head of the set division and the DA division amidst challenging domestic and international circumstances.” That’s corporate speak for “he was a big deal,” and honestly, they’re not wrong.

Han was supposed to be front and center tomorrow, March 26, 2025, delivering the keynote at Samsung’s “Welcome to Bespoke” event—a showcase for their latest home appliance innovations. But after his heart attack, the company scrambled to find a replacement. Now, instead of prepping for a speech, Samsung is organizing his funeral, set for March 27. If you’re in Seoul, you’ll be able to pay respects at a memorial at Samsung Seoul Hospital.

So, who was Jong-Hee Han? To put it simply, he was the guy who kept Samsung’s TV empire on top of the world. Born in 1962, Han came up through the ranks the old-school way. He graduated from Inha University with a degree in electronics engineering—not exactly a lightweight field—and landed at Samsung’s Visual Display division back in the ‘80s. That’s the team responsible for designing and selling TVs, and Han spent 33 years mastering that game. By 2017, he was running the show as head of Visual Display, and under his watch, Samsung locked down its spot as the planet’s biggest TV brand for 15 years straight. No small feat when you’ve got competitors like LG and Sony breathing down your neck.

But Han wasn’t just a TV guy. In 2021, Samsung shook things up, merging its consumer electronics and mobile divisions into one giant unit called the Set Division. Han got the nod to lead it as CEO, alongside his vice chairman gig at Samsung Electronics. He was also overseeing the Digital Appliances (DA) division—think refrigerators, washing machines, and all that fancy “smart home” stuff Samsung’s been pushing lately. The man was juggling a lot, and by all accounts, he was damn good at it.

The heart attack news first broke a few days ago, and it’s safe to say it rattled the tech community. Samsung didn’t release a ton of details—privacy’s still a thing, even for a high-profile exec—but the fact that he was at Samsung Medical Center, one of the best hospitals in South Korea, tells you they were pulling out all the stops. Still, sometimes even the best care isn’t enough.

Han’s death comes at a tricky time for Samsung. The company’s been navigating a brutal global market—chip shortages, inflation, and a smartphone race that’s tighter than ever. Han was a steady hand, someone who’d proven he could steer a ship through choppy waters. Losing him now leaves a gap that won’t be easy to fill.

If you dig into Han’s track record, it’s clear why he was so respected. The TV business isn’t just about slapping screens together—it’s cutthroat, with razor-thin margins and constant pressure to innovate. Han didn’t just keep Samsung in the game; he made sure they owned it. From QLED tech to those massive 8K displays, his fingerprints are all over the products that have defined living rooms worldwide. And let’s not forget the Bespoke line—those customizable appliances were his latest passion project, set to take center stage at tomorrow’s event.

Samsung hasn’t said much about who’ll step into Han’s shoes, and frankly, it’s probably too soon to expect them to. For now, the focus is on mourning a guy who gave nearly four decades to the company. Thirty-seven years—that’s longer than some of Samsung’s younger employees have been alive. He started when CRT TVs were still a thing and stuck around to see the era of foldable screens and AI-powered fridges.

Han’s funeral on Thursday will likely draw a crowd—executives, engineers, and maybe even some of the industry rivals he outmaneuvered over the years. As for the memorial at Samsung Seoul Hospital, it’s a fitting spot for a man who spent his life tied to the Samsung name. If you’re reading this and thinking 63 sounds too young, you’re not alone. Heart attacks don’t care about résumés, though, and Han’s exit leaves a void that’ll be felt from Seoul to Silicon Valley.

For Samsung fans, it’s a moment to reflect on how one guy’s vision shaped the gadgets we take for granted. For the company itself, it’s a wake-up call to figure out what’s next. Either way, Jong-Hee Han’s story—37 years of grit, innovation, and a hell of a legacy—isn’t one we’ll forget anytime soon. Rest easy, JH. You earned it.