Almost like a repeat of how South Korea 20 years ago outcompeted Japan in LCD panel production, China has now outmaneuvered South Korea in LCD. The same could happen to OLED.
The warning was directed at the Korea Display Industry Association, as reported by the Korean newspaper Chosun Biz.
- "It is very concerning that Chinese corporations are narrowing the technology gap, but there is clearly still a difference in advanced technological capabilities," said Lee Cheong, president of Samsung Display.
From Japan to South Korea to China
Over 20 years ago, LG Display and Samsung Display pushed Japanese manufacturers such as Sony, Sharp and Panasonic out of LCD panel production.
Fast forward to today, Samsung Display no longer produces any LCD panels, and LG Display is expected to close the chapter on LCD panels later this month. As a result, LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics are forced to purchase LCD panels mainly from Chinese panel manufacturers.
Also read: Samsung now sells more OLED TVs than 'Neo QLED' miniLED
LCD panels are today produced primarily in China by the likes of TCL CSOT and BOE.
A95-inch 8K OLED prototype design from China's BOE. Photo: BOE
First LCD, then OLED?
LG Display and Samsung Display have shifted their focus to OLED, but the president of Samsung Display warns that China could extend its production expertise to OLED, which could lead to the downfall of the South Korean display industry.
- "Many are worried that China's fierce pursuit of the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) market may lead to a repeat of the liquid crystal display (LCD) path," said Lee Cheong. "It is a very concerning aspect, and it is important how we can reopen the technology gap."
There are already signs of this shift happening. In the production of OLED panels for smartphones, BOE surpassed Samsung Display in 2024, according to Trendforce. Meanwhile, BOE is spending $9 billion to build a new 8.6G factory for OLED, while TCL CSOT has begun small-scale production of inkjet-printed RGB OLED, fueled by the growing shift to OLED in tablets, laptops and monitors.
- "As on-device AI and other technologies expand, not only will the penetration of OLED in the existing market accelerate, but applications in foldable, rollable, transparent, mixed reality (XR), and mobility will lead to a transformation of the industry unlike anything seen before," said Lee Cheong.
- Source: Chosun
