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  • Korea, No. 1 in Global Market Share Close
    Korea, No. 1 in Global Market Share
    In the 2020 global display market, Korea took up 36.9% of the market share, China 36.2%, Taiwan 22.6%, and Japan 3.6%. Korea has maintained first place in the global market for 17 consecutive years. Korea leads the global OLED market, in particular, which is known as next-generation display, accounting for 87.5% of the market share. High value-added OLEDs are playing a key role in innovative products, such as foldable phones and rollable TVs. Samsung Display is no. 1 in the small and medium-sized OLED fields, and LG Display maintains its No. 1 position in the large OLED field. Korea’s LCD field once lost the world's No. 1 position to China in 2018 as Korean companies reduced LCD production and converted to high value-added OLED. Both Samsung Display and LG Display are strategically reducing LCD production to expand OLED production.
    "World Display Market Share in 2020 (Based on Amount)"
    All Displays - Korea 36.9%, China 36.2%, Taiwan 22.6%, Japan 3.6% / OLED Panels - Korea 87.5%, China 11.9% / LCD Panels - Korea 20.5%, China 44.1%, Taiwan 30.0%, Japan 4.6% Large view of images
    ※ Source: OMDIA 2021
    Korea is not only leading in the global display market, but also in the next-generation technology by continuing its efforts to develop new technologies. Korea developed some of the world’s first innovative technologies, such as the world’s first smartphone OLED in 2006, the world’s first TV OLED in 2011, and the world’s first foldable OLED in 2019. Korea's OLED production technology is three to five years ahead of its competitors'.
    "Leader of Next-generation Display Technologies"
    Please refer to the information below
    • 2006 - Developed the world's first smartphone OLED
    • 2009 - Developed the world's first ultra-slim LCD
    • 2011 - Developed the world's first OLED for TV
    • 2013 - Developed the world's first 5-inch FHD super OLED
    • 2015 - Developed the world's first 55-inch mirror OLED
    • 2018 - Developed the world's first 65-inch UHD Rollable TV panel
    • 2019 - Developed and mass produced the world's first Foldable OLED
    • 2020 - Developed the world's first 27-inch QHD Real 1ms game monitor
    Large view of images
  • Korea’s Robust Display Ecosystem For Materials, Parts, and Equipment Open
    Korea’s Robust Display Ecosystem For Materials, Parts, and Equipment
    The Korean display industry consists of 376 equipment companies that can produce panels, such as Samsung Display and LG Display, and 681 materials and parts companies that can be used in the manufacturing process. The total production of the Korean display industry is valued at KRW 67.8 trillion including KRW 54.5 trillion (80%) for panels, KRW 7.1 trillion (10.5%) for materials and parts, and KRW 6.2 trillion (9.1%) for equipment. The total number of employees amounts to 88,000, including 51,000 for panels, 23,000 for material and parts, and 14,000 for equipment. As the Korean display industry has recently switched from LCD to OLED, employment in the OLED field is rising. Products are exported mainly to Vietnam and China, where display module, TV, and mobile phone factories are located. Exports to Vietnam accounts for 53% and exports to China accounts for 38%.
    "Korea’s Robust Display Materials, Parts, and Equipment Ecosystem"
    Please refer to the information below
    • Display Industry - Total production KRW 67.8 trillion, Employment 88,000
    • Panels - KRW 54.5 trillion (80.0%), Employment 51,000
    • Materials and Parts - KRW 87.1 trillion (10.5%), Employment 23,000
    • Equipment - KRW 6.2 trillion (9.1%), Employment 14,000
    Large view of images
    (Unit : USD 100 million, %, $)
    Display Production Category, Years
    ※ Source: Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, Korea Display Industry Association, National IT Industry Promotion Agency
  • Foreign-Invested Material Companies Enter the Korean Market Open
    Foreign-Invested Material Companies Enter the Korean Market
    Dongwoo Fine Chem entered Korea in 1991 based on Japan's Sumitomo’s chemical technology and supplied key materials, such as photoresist and touch sensor panels, to Korean display companies. It has three plants in Pyeongtaek, Iksan, and Samgi and research centers in Pyeongtaek and Iksan, developing next-generation chemicals, such as flexible materials. It recorded KRW 2.47 trillion of sales and hired 2,700 employees in 2020.
    Corning Precision Materials was established in Korea as a joint venture between Samsung and Corning in 1995 and supplied glass, a key material for LCD production, to Korean companies. After producing the first product at the Gumi plant in 1996, the Cheonan plant was completed in 2002. LCD glass products produced in Korean plants are exported to China, and the export amount has been continuously increasing. In 2020, the company recorded approximately KRW 1.44 trillion in sales and hired 2,500 employees.
    Parts and Materials Companies: Liquid crystal(Merck (Germany), Chiso (Japan)), Glass(Corning Precision Materials (US), Paju Electric Glass (Japan)), Film(Dongwoo Fine Chem (Japan), Toray Advanced Materials (Japan)), Equipment Companies: Evaporators(Ulvac Korea (Japan), Applied Materials Korea (US)), Vacuum pumps(Edward Korea), Etchers(Tokyo Electron Korea (Japan)), Printing equipment(Kateeva Korea (US)) Large view of images
  • Tax Credit for Investment in R&D and Facilities Open
    Tax Credit for Investment in R&D and Facilities
    The Korean government is providing various types of support, including a tax credit for R&D expenses in the display field and for facility investment. Investment in R&D and facilities related to seven designated technologies and facilities, including AMOLED, micro LED, and QD (Quantum Dot), will receive a tax credit. As related materials, parts, and equipment as well as panels are subject to the tax credit, many small and medium-sized enterprises are utilizing this system.
    Tax credit table for R&D and facility investment Category, New Source Technology in the Display Field Subject to Tax Credit
    Category New Source Technology in the Display Field Subject to Tax Credit
    1 9-inch or larger AMOLED panel function improvement, and parts, materials, and equipment manufacturing technology
    2 Atmospheric pressure plasma etching equipment technology
    3 Flexible display panels/parts/materials/equipment manufacturing technology
    4 Next-generation vehicle display panels/parts/materials/equipment manufacturing technology
    5 Micro LED display panels/parts/materials/equipment manufacturing technology
    6 Display panel/parts/materials/equipment manufacturing technology for VR/AR/MR
    7 Eco-friendly QD (Quantum Dot) nano material applied display panels/parts/materials/ equipment manufacturing technology
    Support for quota tariffs to facilitate supply and demand
    The Korean government is operating a quota tariff system to strengthen industrial competitiveness and facilitate the supply and demand of goods. The quota tariff is a flexible tariff system that can be applied temporarily by reducing the rate within the range of 40%p to the basic tariff rate for price stability and smooth supply and demand. Items subject to tariff quota are selected through a demand survey every six months or one year. The display industry is also receiving quota tariff support for manufacturing equipment, materials, and parts necessary for panel production.
  • Display Clusters In Korea Open
    Display Clusters In Korea
    Korea's display panel production regions were centered in Giheung, Cheonan, and Gumi from 1995 to 2004, but new clusters were formed around Chungnam, where Samsung Display is located, and Paju, where LG Display is located, in the process of expanding the production line.
    As Samsung Display and LG Display built new lines in Paju, Gyeonggi-do and Tangjeong, Chungcheongnam-do, respectively, clusters of LCD and OLED parts and material companies have been built around the two regions.
    Related materials, parts, and equipment companies, in addition to panel companies, began to emerge around clusters. Top Engineering, Invania, LG Chem, and LG Innotek are located in the Paju cluster. A number of materials, parts, and equipment companies, such as SFA, DE&T, Deoksan Neolux, and Corning Precision Materials, are located in the Chungnam cluster.
    "Display Industry Clusters"
    Industrial bases for equipment and materials companies as well as panel companies
    Please refer to the information below
    LG Display - Paju LCD Complex
    • Equipment companies : Top Engineering, Yas, Invania
    • Material companies : : LG Chemical, LG Innotek, MNtech
    Samsung Display - Chungnam Display Complex
    • Equipment companies : SFA, SEMES, Evertechno, DNT
    • Material companies : Deoksan Neolux, MNtech, Corning Precision Materials
    Large view of images
    Paju Display Cluster
    LG Display is located in the Paju Display Cluster. LG Display produces LCD and OLED panels for large-sized TVs. It operates 7th and 8th generation factories, OLED production lines, and module factories. As it is located close to ports and airports, more than 90% of products can be exported and convenient transportation networks are established.
    The Uijeongbu office of Seoul Customs is located in the Paju Display Industrial Complex, reducing the import customs clearance time to less than 30 minutes and saving time and the import/export customs clearance process. It is possible to supply high-quality manpower from universities in the metropolitan area, as it is adjacent to the metropolitan area. The supply of local manpower is also smooth through agreements with nearby universities and designation of specialized high schools.
    Chungnam Display Cluster
    A number of materials, parts, and equipment companies are located in Chungcheongnam-do, with Samsung Display at the center. The province is a leading region in the display field, producing more than 50% of displays in the domestic industry and more than 25% in the global display industry. The province has excellent R&D capabilities, including a display support center supported by the local governments, and 35 universities that started to open in the areas surrounding Asan and Tangjeong from the 1980s. Since KTX stations are located in the province, it is possible to move quickly to different regions, such as Seoul, Busan, and Gwangju. Its close location to the Pyeongtaek Port, 30km away from the port, helps reduce logistics costs.
    "Geographical Status of Major Display Clusters"
    Geographical Status of Major Display Clusters Category, Paju, Chungnam
    Category Paju Chungnam
    Distance to Incheon International Airport 50km 164km
    Port 50km (Incheon) 30km (Pyeongtaek, Dangjin)
    Seoul 35km 85km
    Seoul Station 60minutes (by car and railway) 34minutes (KTX), 90minutes (by car)
    Water available for use Paldang Dam Daecheong Dam
    Nearby cities Ilsan Cheonan Asan
    ※ Data provided by: Korea Display Industry Association
Invest KOREA
Semiconductor/Display PM
Park Dong Youl Key Industries Promotion Team
T.+82-2-3460-7726 E. andypark@kotra.or.kr
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