LG, OLED 기술투자에 주력하겠다

Published : Jul 23, 2013 - 21:20 Updated : Jul 23, 2013 - 21:27

LCD사업 1위를 달리고 있는 LG 디스플레이의 한상범 사장은 월요일 경기도 파주에 위치한 공장에서 가진 기자와의 만남에서 “중장기적인 관점에서 LCD사업보다 OLED사업에 더욱 투자 할 것,”이라고 밝히며 과감한 기술투자에 노력을 아끼지 않겠다고 밝혔다.

“Full-HD 와 Ultra-HD가 TV의 화질을 바꿨다면, OLED는 완전히 새로운 세계를 여는 것,” 이라고 한상범 사장은 말했다.

LG디스플레이는 8세대 TV용 OLED 패널 생산라인에 지난 2월 7000억원을 투자하기로 결정했으며, 월 2만6000장을 생산할 수 있는 규모로 빠르면 내년 하반기에 완공된다. 또한 플라스틱 OLED 생산라인 투자도 검토하고 있다.

한상범 사장은 “매달 실적에 일희일비하기보다 미래를 보고 인프라를 다지기 위해 투자할 계획”이라고 말했다. LG 디스플레이는 올해 투자액의 80%인 3조2000억 원을 OLED와 저온폴리실리콘(LTPS) 등 차세대 기술에 투자하기로 결정했다. 파주에 짓고 있는 OLED TV 패널 신규라인(M2)엔 7000억 원을 투입한다.

파주 신규라인과 LG 디스플레이의 중국 광저우 공장은 모두 빠르면 내년 하반기에 완공이 될 예정이다.

(코리아헤럴드 김영원 기자)

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LG pledges to bolster OLED business

LG Display, the world’s top liquid crystal display maker, said that it would invest more in installing production lines for organic light-emitting diode panels.

At a meeting with reporters at the firm’s industrial complex in Paju on Monday, LG Display CEO Han Sang-beom said the firm would reinforce its OLED business, by completing OLED production lines in the complex at least by late next year.

“In the long term, LG Display will put more priority on the OLED business than the LCD business,” CEO Han said.

Currently, a 55-inch OLED TV panel -- priced at around $2400 -- is six times more expensive than an LCD equivalent, which makes OLED TV less attractive to customers, according to market watchers.

In order to take the lion‘s share of the growing market, LG Electronics unveiled new 55-inch and 66-inch OLED TVs this year.

Low production yields are often identified as one of main stumbling blocks along with high costs.

“Although it is unclear when the OLED prices will be lowered to a satisfactory level, LG Display will increase investment in technology development to truly become a market leader,” the LG CEO said.

He added that if full high-definition and ultra high-definition TVs brought screen resolution to a new level, OLED will mean the beginning of an entirely new era for TVs.

In order to take the lion‘s share of the growing OLED market, LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics unveiled new 55-inch and 66-inch OLED TVs this year.

“The releases of OLED TVs are more to imply they have a technological edge than to sell the products,” said Chun Young-Hwan, an analyst from I’M Investment and Securities.

Low production yields are often identified as one of main stumbling blocks along with high costs.

By Kim Young-won
(wone0102@heraldcorp.com)