To Cope with Japan's Export Restrictions
LG Display CTO Kang In-byeong said on July 9 that the company is currently testing Chinese and Taiwanese hydrofluoric acid with regard to Japan’s semiconductor and display material export restrictions. “The impact of the restrictions on our OLED panel and rollable TV production is nothing to worry about,” he said.
At present, the Japanese government is restricting the export to South Korea of fluorine polyimide, photoresist and hydrogen fluoride for use in displays and semiconductors. In addition, the Japanese government is claiming that the South Korean government let North Korea get hydrogen fluoride.
“In the display industry, the export restrictions are not as serious as in the semiconductor sector, and display manufacturers use less hydrofluoric acid than semiconductor manufacturers,” the CTO explained, adding, “Chinese and Taiwanese hydrofluoric acid can be substitutes for the same material supplied by Japan, and we will prepare countermeasures through inventory check.”
He also mentioned that South Korean companies need to seek substitutes for the restricted materials in China, Taiwan and South Korea to deal with the export restrictions. “Hydrofluoric acid is a replaceable process solution, and we are currently conducting tests as to quality differences,” he went on to say.