Some stories say he was fired. Some say he was merely replaced. Either way, developers are not sorry to say goodbye to Chang Dong-hoon.
Samsung Electronics said Dong-hoon, who led Samsung's mobile design team, would no longer occupy his current role. Instead, those duties will be taken over by vice president of mobile design Lee Min-Hyuk, according to Reuters.
Lost in some of the online commentary was the fact that Dong-hoon will continue to lead Samsung's design center, which oversees the company's overall design strategy.
It was nearly impossible to find a developer who had a good word to say about the Samsung exec on Twitter, with the kindest using a euphemism for being laid off.
Samsung fires mobile design team head. Surplus to requirements.
— Andy Rennard (@rennarda) May 8, 2014
While the Korean company has declined to comment on the change, some are attributing it to tepid responses to the Galaxy S5's design, even though Samsung has managed to make significant inroads in the sector.
"…roaring success which unseated iPhone as king of the global smartphone market" http://t.co/Q5af6HvpJa Sorry, when was iPhone ever 'king'?
— Nathan D Huening (@sprockethouse) May 8, 2014
The prevailing viewpoint on social media was that Samsung's approach to smartphones has been derivative at best.
Samsung replaces head of mobile design: http://t.co/dqv9b9HX3n Isn't that an Oxymoron? Samsung? Design? I thought they just copy Apple! lOlz
— PooPsTech (@PoopsTech) May 8, 2014
Even with this change, few in the mobile software sector had high expectations for the Galaxy S5's immediate successors.
Maybe this means the Galaxy S7 won't be an eyesore. (Not expecting anything for the S6) http://t.co/geSf4C0KuG
— Travis Willis (@torabu) May 8, 2014
Although it would be foolish for Samsung to concede defeat, some developers suggested that it could at least tone down the marketing rhetoric.
Huh. I just saw a Samsung commercial about how 'amazing' the S5 is. http://t.co/AXY7GzzIib
— Dan Segars (@seeegs) May 8, 2014