Is Micro LED lagging behind China? Korean media: South Korea lacks a Micro-LED ecosystem

According to South Korean media reports, Seoul Semiconductor CEO Lee Jung-hoon became chairman of the Inorganic Light Emitting Display Subcommittee of the Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA) on April 17.

On April 17, KDIA held the inauguration ceremony of the inorganic luminescent display subcommittee in Sam Seong-dong, Seoul to build an inorganic luminescent display ecosystem. Inorganic light-emitting displays are displays made of self-luminescent devices based on inorganic materials and are expected to grow after organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in the future. Inorganic light-emitting displays listed as South Korea's national advanced strategic technologies include micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs), nano LEDs, quantum dots (QDs), etc.

KDIA said: We have been committed to gathering private demand by holding inorganic luminescent display technology forums and seminars, publishing industry reports and conducting corporate surveys to advance preliminary projects, adding that we have launched an inorganic luminescent display technology display subcommittee to listen to the voices of industry members. quot;

Lee Jung-hoon said that there is currently a view that South Korea has acquired almost all core technologies while lagging behind its competitors in certain fields. Micro light-emitting diode (LED) technology is the core technology of future displays and has overwhelming patents. If the entire ecosystem from materials, components to application fields goes all out, we will be able to obtain leading technology. quot;

In the South Korean display industry, the general view is that South Korea lags behind China in the field of Micro LEDs. This is because South Korea only Seoul Semiconductor produces LED chips, and South Korea lacks an ecosystem for Micro LED-related research and development.

Seoul Semiconductor joined KDIA last year. Lee Jeong-hoon, CEO of Seoul Semiconductor, said at the KDIA shareholders 'meeting in March last year that we have been focusing on the development of optical semiconductors for 30 years, and we hope to contribute to the South Korean display industry. quot;

At the launching ceremony, the annual business plan was determined, including: △ collecting opinions to expand the benefits of government policies such as R & D and tax support;△ linking human resource development with corporate recruitment to strengthen the industrial base; seizing standards;△ improving rules and regulations to expand the market as soon as possible. In the future, the subcommittee plans to collect industry opinions, review tasks, and formulate policy support measures through the Inorganic Luminescence Industry Promotion Alliance. In the second half of the year, we plan to invite scholars to hold the International Inorganic Light-emitting Display Frontier Technology Forum.

At the launching ceremony, Kwon Sang-se, CEO of TPI, said: Apple recently suspended the Apple Watch Micro LED development project, which reflects the market demand for advanced Micro LED technology, which will become an opportunity for Korean companies. quot;

Lee Dong-wook, executive vice president of KDIA, said: If digital advertising using ultra-large displays is to be launched in South Korea, its use in commercial and industrial fields must be restricted, strict review and inspection must be carried out, and the installation of digital advertising must be prohibited. Traffic advertising is stricter than in foreign countries and must be reviewed in terms of deregulation. KDIA will seek regulations as a communication channel for the inorganic light-emitting display industry. Make recommendations to the government through subcommittee to stop market creation.& quot;

Samsung Electronics, which leads the global Micro LED TV market, did not attend the subcommittee's inauguration ceremony. Samsung Electronics is not a member of KDIA. About 80 people including Lee Jeong-hoon, CEO of Seoul Semiconductor, Kang Jeong-tae, Vice President of Samsung Display, Shin Seong-bi, Managing Director of LG Display, Lee Kyung-jae, CEO of Lumens, and Lee Dong, Executive Vice Chairman of KDIA, attended the launching ceremony.