At SID 2025, the world’s largest display exhibition held in May, LG Display was honored with the ‘Distinguished Paper’ Award for its research on 4th-gen OLED panels based on its proprietary Primary RGB Tandem technology.
At the heart of this achievement was Jihyang Jang from OLED Technology Development Team, who leads the development of large-sized OLED devices.
When asked, “Who came to mind first at the moment of the award?” she answered without hesitation—“the team members who endured the journey together.” She credited the successful development of the 4th-gen OLED to her team’s relentless efforts over the past year, working day and night in their respective roles.
Developing a new OLED device requires tight collaboration across departments and with partners. From equipment design to deposition methods, every step was a new challenge.
In this article, we explore the behind-the-scenes stories of SID 2025 and the journey of OLED device innovation.
#1. OLED Device Quality Defines Competitiveness:
Turning Research into Real-World Products
Hello, I’m Jihyang Jang from OLED Technology Development Team. Our team develops next-generation OLED devices for large-size TVs. Since OLED is a self-emissive display that does not require a backlight, its performance hinges entirely on how well each individual device is designed and implemented. We experiment with dozens of organic material combinations, enhance device structures, and fine-tune performance to meet target specifications.
But what truly matters is that our work doesn’t end in the lab—it must be manufacturable. That’s why close collaboration with internal teams and swift communication with material partners are essential. We continuously adapt to variables in order to close the gap between R&D and production.
OLED devices are the core of LG Display’s customer value in the OLED TV market. That’s why our team works with deep responsibility and pride, knowing that our technology directly impacts the product’s success.
#2. 4th-generation OLED
Rewriting the Standards of Performance:
At SID 2025, LG Display presented 16 forward-looking research papers in next-generation display technologies. Among them, the fourth-generation OLED panel research was recognized as a ‘Distinguished Paper’ for its significant advancements in brightness, color expression, and energy efficiency.
The most striking change in fourth-generation OLED lies in its dramatically improved brightness and color performance. While the previous third-generation OLED achieved 3,000 nits of peak brightness, the fourth-generation OLED reaches 4,000 *nits, a 33% increase.
*”Nits” measure light intensity, where 1 nit equals the brightness of one candle. 4,000 nits = the brightness of 4,000 candles
At the core of the fourth-generation OLED technology is LG Display’s Primary RGB Tandem structure. In previous 3-stack designs, two blue layers—due to their shorter energy wavelength—were stacked together, while red, green, and yellow materials were combined into a single emission layer. The new 4-stack structure, however, separates red and green into their own independent layers, resulting in a total of four emission layers. This advancement has significantly enhanced color brightness by 40%, achieving 2,100 nits, and expanded the color gamut to 99.5% based on the DCI standard, allowing for even more vivid and accurate color reproduction that stays true to the original content.
This makes OLED not only brighter and more accurate, but also more efficient—a crucial advantage for AI TVs with high-resolution content and gaming displays that demand fast refresh rates and high brightness.
Ultimately, this breakthrough technology enhances the viewer’s experience, delivering greater immersion and emotional impact every time a user interacts with content.
#3. The Engineers Behind the Evolution:
Building the Future of OLED, One Bolt at a Time
Transforming the OLED platform was far from easy. From material innovation to equipment modification and production line adaptation, every aspect of the project was a challenge. And since development and validation had to run in parallel under tight production schedules, seamless coordination among factories, departments, and partners was vital.
Thanks to close collaboration between departments and our manufacturing partners, we made it happen. We believe that this spirit of dedication and unity led to the recognition at SID 2025. More than just a technical milestone, our work proved the feasibility of mass production, earning the trust of global customers and markets.
OLED: Expanding Possibilities, Realizing Imagination
From ultra-premium TVs to gaming monitors, high-end IT devices, and mainstream displays—OLED is reshaping the future of screens. And as its potential grows, so does the importance of the devices that power it.
Fueled by a pioneering spirit, Jihyang Jang envisions a world where OLED transforms daily life, expanding far beyond what we imagined.
Her mission continues—to deliver never-before-seen technologies and products to customers who seek displays that surpass their wildest expectations.
