K-Display, Unsmiling Despite Receiving First Gold Tower Order... Must Widen OLED Technology Gap to Avoid Chinese Pursuit (Comprehensive)

14th Display Day Ceremony
Receiving the Gold Tower Order but "Second Half Won't Be Easy"
Jung Ho-young "China to Catch Up in 2-3 Years... Urgent Need for Super Gap"

Choi Ju-seon, CEO of Samsung Display, revealed on the 21st that despite being the first in the industry to receive the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit, the business environment in the second half of the year remains challenging. Jung Ho-young, chairman of the Korea Display Industry Association and CEO of LG Display, stated that it is a critically important time to widen the OLED technology gap to prevent China from catching up to Korea's organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology level.

On the same day, Choi met with reporters at the '14th Display Day Ceremony' held at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and responded "It is not easy" when asked about Samsung Display's business outlook for the second half of the year.

Regarding his acceptance speech, he said, "I am truly grateful for receiving such an unexpected great award, and I feel like I am accepting it on behalf of the seniors who have long been in the display industry," adding, "I will work even harder to ensure that the display industry can lead the nation."

Choi Juseon, CEO of Samsung Display, entering the venue of the '14th Display Day' commemorative ceremony on the 21st.
[Photo by Moon Chaeseok]

Choi became the first display industry worker to receive the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit. Previously, only the Silver Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit was available, but from this year, the Gold Tower Order can be awarded. The association and companies requested the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to elevate the award to the Gold Tower Order, and the relevant ministries accepted this.

At the ceremony, 40 meritorious individuals, including Choi, received government awards. About 350 people attended, including Chairman Jung, CEO Choi, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Bang Moon-kyu, Lee Yong-pil, Director of Advanced Industry Policy at the Ministry, and representatives from academia, industry, and research. Due to the National Assembly plenary session schedule, Director Lee read the congratulatory speech and conducted the awards ceremony on behalf of Minister Bang.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy praised Choi for achieving innovation in mass production technology for OLED displays. They highly valued the recent announcement of investment plans for the world's first 8.6-generation OLED production facilities for IT devices such as tablets and laptops, as well as smartphones and TVs. Samsung Display plans to invest 4.1 trillion won in IT OLED production facilities by 2026.

Choi Juseon, CEO of Samsung Display, receiving the Gold Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit at the 14th Display Day.
[Photo by Moon Chaeseok]

Chairman Jung and Director Lee also voiced a unified message that the pursuit by China in both the liquid crystal display (LCD) and OLED markets is fierce, emphasizing the need to maintain an overwhelming 'super-gap' capability.

In his welcoming remarks, Chairman Jung said, "At the current pace, competing countries such as China are likely to reach Korea's current OLED technology level within the next 2 to 3 years," adding, "To avoid repeating the LCD experience, it is a critically important time to widen the OLED technology gap and secure unique core technologies in next-generation display fields such as microLED and inorganic LEDs."

Chairman Jung stressed that to outpace China and others, it is necessary to accelerate the transition to OLED displays for IT devices like tablets and laptops to create new markets. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening the domestic industrial ecosystem by speeding up localization efforts not only for panel companies like Samsung and LG but also for materials, parts, and equipment (MPE) suppliers.

Jung Ho-young, Chairman of the Korea Display Industry Association and CEO of LG Display (second from right), and Lee Yong-pil, Director General of the Advanced Industry Bureau at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (far right), among others, are seen viewing the award-winning entries at the 14th Display Day ceremony.
[Photo by Moon Chae-seok]

Director Lee conveyed Minister Bang's message that securing a 'super-gap in advanced industries' is the top priority. Lee said, "Since Minister Bang's inauguration, the top industrial policy priority has been securing a super-gap in advanced industries," adding, "We will spare no effort in supporting leading technology development and securing excellent talent through killer regulation reforms, tax and infrastructure support."

Lee stated that the government plans to fully support three key areas: maintaining the OLED technology super-gap, securing technological superiority in inorganic LEDs and metaverse displays, and achieving self-reliance in core MPE items.

Lee noted, "China is rapidly increasing investments in OLED following LCD, and Taiwan and Japan are also increasing investments in next-generation technologies to catch up," adding, "As our companies have announced plans to invest more than 65 trillion won over the next five years to thoroughly prepare for market changes, the government will also provide full support."

Minister Bang arrived at the event around 7:15 p.m. after finishing the National Assembly schedule. He said, "All public officials, including the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, will serve as ammunition and vanguards so that display industry workers can win in the global war," adding, "I hope that the display industry, a symbol of our advanced industries in the global market, will continue to thrive."