Seoul Semiconductor’s local factory in Vietnam (Image courtesy of Seoul Semiconductor)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – Seoul Semiconductor, a South Korean optoelectronics company, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the world’s top supplier of backlight LEDs, surpassing long-time industry leader Nichia of Japan.
According to a report released by market research firm Omdia, Seoul Semiconductor captured 16.5% of the global backlight LED market in 2023, based on sales revenue. “This is a significant achievement for a mid-sized Korean company, overtaking Nichia, which has long dominated this sector,” a company spokesperson stated on August 8.
Seoul Semiconductor specializes in LED products and optical solutions for lighting, automotive, and display applications. Ranked third globally among LED manufacturers, the company boasts a portfolio of 18,000 patented technologies.
Its market dominance is built on innovative products such as ‘WICOP’ (Wafer Integrated Chip on PCB), a technology that allows for the production of LED chips without wires or packaging.
The company’s success in the display sector is largely attributed to its WICOP technology, which enables the creation of customized LED solutions for TVs, monitors, and automotive applications through advanced heat dissipation, local dimming, and optical design.
The technology’s ability to produce ultra-small, high-efficiency LED devices has led to its adoption in over 100 models by global automotive manufacturers.
“We invest about 100 billion won annually, which is 10% of our sales, in research and development,” said Kim Hong-min, president of Seoul Semiconductor’s display division.
“This has allowed us to secure an overwhelming 18,000 patents in the LED industry. We will maintain our focus on optoelectronics and continue to develop innovative technologies to maintain our leading position in the display sector.”
The company plans to showcase its micro LED display technology at the upcoming K-Display exhibition at COEX in Seoul, starting August 14. Seoul Semiconductor will participate alongside its subsidiary, Seoul Viosys, which currently holds the top global market share in the UV LED sector.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
