Korea needs to strengthen micro-LED and OLED markets

Vice President Lee Dong-wook

A top official from the Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA) describes micro light emitting diode (LEDs) as an effective weapon that South Korea can take advantage of against China.

“China is also entering the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) market,” KDIA Vice President Lee Dong-wook said in a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper. He stressed that the Korean display industry should respond by keeping its lead in OLED technology while developing its market presence in the micro-LED market, an area where China currently has an advantage.

Lee called on the government and local authorities to play their parts in stimulating domestic demand, and even suggested that increasing demand from the public sector could encourage companies to enter the micro-LED market.

India is another key player to watch, according to Lee. Narendra Modi is expected to promote the tech and display industry in New Delhi after his re-election to a second term as the country’s prime minister. Lee predicts that India’s push to develop its liquid crystal display (LCD) sector could enable China to shift toward the OLED market. He emphasized that Korea, the world’s only country with a full-scale OLED value chain, must continue advancing OLED technology to maintain its leadership position.