Kim Dongyeon: "Gyeonggi Province, Paju City, and LG Display Are One Team; This Will Be a Turning Point for K-Display Advancement"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon Hosts
‘Next-Generation OLED Investment Site Meeting’ with LG Display and Partner Company Leaders
Listening to On-Site Challenges and Reviewing the Status of the Display Industry
Strengthening the Industrial Ecosystem in Northern Gyeonggi through Next-Generation OLED Transition
Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle ‘ROii’ Demonstration Held in Heyri Village, Paju

On the 20th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon conducted his 17th on-site tour focused on the livelihoods and economy in Paju, where he visited LG Display in Paju to review the current status of the display industry and listen to the challenges faced by the sector.

On the afternoon of the 20th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon visited the domestic return investment site of LG Display Co., Ltd. in Paju and held a meeting with Paju Mayor Kim Kyungil, LG Display CEO Jung Cheoldong, National Assembly member Park Jung, and related officials. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

The 'Next-Generation OLED Investment Site Meeting' held at the LG Display R&D building in Paju was attended by Paju Mayor Kim Kyungil, National Assembly member Park Jung, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly members Ahn Myunggyu and Lee Yonguk, as well as representatives from LG Display and major partner companies, totaling around 30 participants.

Governor Kim Dongyeon said, "When we were developing Vision 2030 during President Roh Moo-hyun's administration, I participated in lifting major regulatory barriers. Eight years ago, as Deputy Prime Minister, I visited LG in Yeouido and discussed economic innovation with Chairman Koo, emphasizing that large corporations should also be partners in innovation. I recall that at the time, he hoped for large-scale investment in Paju, and it is meaningful to visit today. I believe today will be an important momentum for K-Display. In terms of reshoring, Gyeonggi Province, Paju City, and LG Display will work together as one team to ensure success. On a smaller scale, I hope this will bring dramatic change to Paju, and on a larger scale, I hope it will become a significant turning point for the advancement of K-Display in Korea."

Jung Cheoldong, CEO of LG Display, stated, "LG Display has worked with Gyeonggi Province and Paju City for 20 years. By resolving the strict regulations in the Seoul metropolitan area and creating a large-scale industrial complex, we were able to establish ourselves here. When we invested in new technology this past June, you also provided a great deal of support. We will ensure that our new technology investments contribute to the local economy and become an opportunity to grow together with our partners."

On this day, business leaders shared various on-site perspectives, including the need to strengthen technological competitiveness, secure skilled professionals, and improve regional infrastructure.

On the afternoon of the 20th, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon visited the domestic return investment site of LG Display Co., Ltd. in Paju. After holding a meeting with Paju Mayor Kim Kyungil, LG Display CEO Jung Cheoldong, National Assembly member Park Jung, and other officials, they took a commemorative photo. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

Hwang Cheolju, CEO of Jusung Engineering, a partner company, remarked, "When it is cold in Paju, it is cold for us as well; when it is warm in Paju, it is warm for us, too. While there is a national industrial complex, if Gyeonggi Province also establishes an industrial complex for material, parts, and equipment companies, it would greatly help these companies grow rapidly."

Kim Taehun, CEO of MTer, suggested, "The GTX Unjeong Central Station has opened, and if a bus route from the station to the industrial complex is established, it would greatly alleviate inconvenience for our members and help with workforce recruitment."

In response, Governor Kim promised, "We will closely link your suggestions with Gyeonggi Province's existing policies and review new ideas so that Gyeonggi Province can take the lead."

Following the sale of its LCD plant in Guangzhou, China, LG Display is planning to invest approximately 700 billion won in preparing new OLED technology and infrastructure at the Paju LCD General Industrial Complex from June 2025 to June 2027. This is a strategic decision to shift toward a high value-added, OLED-centered industrial structure and to accelerate the acquisition of next-generation technology by utilizing idle space at the Paju plant.

On July 31, Gyeonggi Province and Paju City signed a domestic return investment agreement (MOU) with LG Display and are cooperating to ensure the investment proceeds smoothly through prompt administrative support.

As the display industry has a high localization rate for equipment, materials, and components, the ripple effect on related local industries is significant. Through this investment, the growth of partner companies, job creation, and revitalization of the local economy are expected to generate positive economic effects throughout northern Gyeonggi Province. In particular, as next-generation OLED facility investments begin in earnest, the Paju LCD cluster is projected to serve as a major turning point in strengthening the regional industrial ecosystem and the foundation of the display industry in northern Gyeonggi Province.

Meanwhile, Governor Kim Dongyeon later participated in a demonstration event for the Level 4 unmanned autonomous vehicle 'ROii' at the Gyeonggi Future Education Paju Campus.

Demonstration event of Level 4 unmanned autonomous vehicle 'ROii' at Gyeonggi Future Education Paju Campus. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

'ROii' is the first domestically certified Level 4 unmanned autonomous vehicle in Korea, produced by Autonomous a2z. It is capable of operating independently along designated routes without driver intervention. During the recent APEC summit in Gyeongju, it also demonstrated its technological stability by operating without any accidents.

Governor Kim rode in the demonstration vehicle, traveling a 1.1-kilometer section around Heyri Village to directly check the vehicle's safety and driving system.

Currently, there are seven designated pilot zones for autonomous vehicles in Gyeonggi Province: Pangyo, Siheung, Anyang, Yongin, Hwaseong, Suwon, and Goyang. The province plans to designate five additional pilot zones, including Paju, Gwangmyeong, Yangju, Ansan, and Seongnam, with Paju scheduled for designation in December. Paju City plans to deploy two autonomous buses in Unjeong New Town, Gyoha-dong, and Geumchon-dong in 2026, and, once the routes are stabilized, to consider expanding service to Heyri Village in 2027.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.