In July 2023, parts of Cheonan City and Asan City in Chungcheongnam-do (Chungnam) Province were designated as a display specialized complex in line with the government’s national strategic high-tech project. Expected to be the center of South Korea's display industry, the Chungnam Display Specialized Complex was created as part of a strategic effort to develop technologies amidst fierce global competition, make the country’s materials, parts, and equipment sectors self-reliant, and establish a technology super gap.

The specialized complex encompasses ten industrial complexes in Cheonan and Asan (approximately 14.1 million ㎡). Cheonan was first selected as a specialized zone for materials, parts, and equipment in 2021 (with approximately 90 companies operating in the complex). With the designation of additional industrial complexes, the specialized complex is earning a reputation for excellence.

Major players in the display industry such as Samsung Display, Dow Chemical, Advanced Glass, Edwards Korea, and Samsung Corning are operating in the specialized complex. Notable small and medium-sized venture companies include DTC, QC Laser, and Nanoace.

Benefits for residents include priority allocation of government R&D budgets, testbed construction and financial support, increased floor area ratio, and investment incentives. As a national project, the Display Innovation Process Center (scheduled for completion in April 2025) has been established, and a project was launched to build the Inorganic Light-Emitting Display Smart Modular Center by 2032. The plan is to invest approximately KRW 325.8 billion by 2027.

Following the designation of the specialized zone for materials, parts, and equipment, the country’s self-sufficiency rate for parts and materials increased from 65% in 2019 to approximately 71.5% in 2023. Based on these achievements, the government plans to strengthen its leadership in next-generation display technologies such as OLED and microLED.

The Chungnam Display Specialized Zone connects the Cheonan and Asan regions as a single large display R&D and production hub, playing a pivotal role in linking national strategies and corporate demand. The government’s administrative and financial support, test and infrastructure development by Chungnam TP, a value chain centered on large corporations, and synergies with the cluster of numerous specialized SMEs will serve as the core driving force for achieving a “technology super gap” in the global market. At a time when global competition is intensifying daily, the Chungnam Display Specialized Complex is expected to play a key role in widening the technological gap with China and Taiwan, thereby solidifying the country's position as a display powerhouse.