When OLED first appeared in the world, people called it the “display of dreams.” Its perfect blacks, lifelike colors, and ultra-thin design—possible only because OLED emits its own light—were iconic features that LCD could never achieve.
But at the same time, it was an incredibly challenging technology to handle. Each pixel element had to be controlled with extreme precision, and back then, no one believed that a large-sized OLED TV panel could be made.
However, LG Display has relentlessly pursued the creation of “a light the world has never seen,” turning the impossible into reality. Now, let us take a closer look at LG Display’s pioneering OLED leadership and its OLED Heritage journey.
1. OLED – the “Display of Dreams” that began from the impossible
In the early 2000s, the TV market was rapidly shifting from PDP to LCD. At that time, OLED was still a future technology, only attempted in small displays. Moving into large-sized OLED was an unprecedented challenge.
OLED had strengths—perfect black, exceptional contrast, smooth motion, and ultra-thin form factors—but it also came with immense technical barriers. We had to maintain consistent TFT current with compensation pixels, overcome the limits of fine patterning and deposition masks, and precisely control each pixel made from organic materials. Early yield rates were barely 20%, and no one could say with confidence that mass production was possible.
Nevertheless, LG Display’s challenge continued. It was driven by the passion of its people who shared the desire to “create what had never existed before.” Experts from various fields were strategically placed to generate synergy, united by the conviction that large-sized OLED would become a key growth engine for the company’s future. Through relentless research and perseverance, LG Display ultimately succeeded in developing Korea’s first 15-inch OLED TV panel in 2009—a breakthrough achievement realized after years of challenges and setbacks.
2. The first lighting of the 15-inch OLED TV
In-hyo Han, a member of Panel Research Team in charge of OLED panel design, was one of the developers who worked on the 15-inch OLED TV panel at the time. Looking back, he recalled the moment of finally succeeding after numerous setbacks and failures.
“Whenever a new panel was developed, we held what we called a “lighting ceremony.” It was extremely rare for the panel to light up successfully on the first try. On that day, all the researchers watched in tense silence—until the panel lit up, and the room erupted in cheers and applause. For LG Display, simply proving that large-sized OLED was possible was a milestone in itself.“
3. From LCD to OLED Leader Setting the Market Standard
After successfully developing the 15-inch OLED TV panel, LG Display accelerated its efforts to create larger and more advanced OLED displays. In 2013, the company became the first in the world to mass-produce 55-inch large-sized OLED TV panels, ushering in the OLED TV era. It later introduced second-generation OLEDs with a stabilized deuterium-based device structure and personalized algorithms for enhanced performance.
Moreover, with its third-generation OLED, LG Display maximized screen brightness by applying MLA+ (Micro Lens Array+) technology, which consists of 42.4 billion microscopic lens patterns, together with proprietary algorithms. Building on this, the company introduced its fourth-generation OLED, delivering industry-leading brightness along with further advancements in contrast and color accuracy. Through these innovations, LG Display has set the global benchmark for OLED technology leadership.
In addition to being the first in the world to commercialize large-sized OLED TVs, LG Display has continuously pioneered groundbreaking innovations: flexible OLEDs, which are both impact-resistant and bendable; P-OLEDs using plastic substrates, enabling thinner, lighter, and curved designs that revolutionized automotive displays; the world’s first transparent OLED, which leverages both space and screen; and tandem OLEDs, which stack two emission layers to deliver higher brightness, longer lifespan, and reduced power consumption.
From these “world’s first” achievements to today’s accumulated advancements, LG Display’s relentless research and innovation in OLED technology continue to push the boundaries of possibility.
4. Lighting up again after 16 years – and moving forward
Recently, there was surprising yet delightful news: the 15-inch OLED TV panel developed in 2009 was powered on again after 16 years—still delivering a clean and vivid picture. It serves as a powerful reminder of LG Display’s leadership in OLED technology.
From its “first challenge that turned the impossible into reality” to today’s evolution into the world’s most advanced OLED technology, LG Display has continued to redefine the standard of display innovation. Beginning with the 15-inch OLED TV panel that laid the foundation for large-sized OLED TV panels, to the unveiling of the fourth-generation OLED this year, the company’s OLED Heritage remains an ongoing journey—one that will continue to lead the industry with the best picture quality and pioneering OLED technology leadership.
