Follow LG Display’s journey of OLED innovation,
where future technology became today’s reality.
Just a few years ago, “transparent displays” seemed like something out of science fiction.
Today, however, they are gradually becoming part of our daily lives. From shop windows to airport information systems and subway platforms, LG Display’s Transparent OLED is redefining how information is delivered in public spaces.
In this fourth episode of the OLED Heritage series, we explore how Transparent OLED technology—once considered a futuristic concept—has evolved into a tangible reality through continuous innovation and development.
Breaking the Barrier of Transparency
The True Transparent Display, Perfected by OLED
A transparent display allows viewers to see the background behind the screen. It harmonizes with its surroundings when not in use, creating an open and futuristic atmosphere, and displays information only when needed.
The key feature of transparent display technology is its transparency. Traditional transparent displays based on LCD technology were limited to the mid-10% range of transparency due to their inherent structural constraints, such as the need for polarizers.
LG Display overcame these limitations by applying OLED technology. Since each OLED pixel emits its own light without a backlight, LG Display has successfully increased transparency from 30% to over 40%, and now up to 45%. Subsequently, LG Display has continuously improved the size, resolution, and durability of Transparent OLEDs, further enhancing their commercialization potential.
From the World’s First 15-Inch to 77-Inch Flexible OLED
Tracing the Evolution of Transparent OLED Technology
LG Display’s Transparent OLED journey dates back to 2009, when the company unveiled the world’s first 15-inch Transparent OLED panel. It went on to introduce an 18-inch version in 2014, a vehicle application in 2016, and a 77-inch UHD Transparent Flexible OLED in 2017, continuously expanding the technology’s potential.
Airports, Subways, and Retail Spaces
A Transparent Future Comes to Life
Once regarded as an experimental technology, Transparent OLEDs are now quietly entering everyday environments.
In April, LG Display’s Transparent OLEDs were applied to platform screen doors at Seoul’s Yeouido Station. At first glance, they look like ordinary glass doors, but they seamlessly display route maps, train schedules, and safety information — delivering both information efficiency and visual openness in public spaces.
Through Transparent OLEDs, LG Display is creating new spatial experiences across mobility, home & office, retail, and art & culture applications, elevating displays beyond simple screens into intelligent interfaces that connect people and their environments.
