Samsung and LG are announced to release own-brand 60W LED light bulbs at retail prices of US$10-12 sometime in the second half of 2012, which will threaten Taiwan leading position in global LED market.

With strong support of South Korean government, Samsung and LG have shown aggressive attempt to become world leader in the LED lighting industry. Samsung has equipped itself with integrated LED manufacturing capability involving epi-wafer and package manufacturing. In particular, Samsung and LG’s plans are more aggressive than that of LSG of the United States, which has planned to introduce US$15 60W bulbs in 2012.

Y.F. Yieh, chairman of Everlight, considered that South Korea is on the verge of dethroning Taiwan as the world’s biggest LED supplier in terms of volume. And B.J. Lee, chairman of LED chipmaker Epistar, also pointed out that Taiwan’s LED industry would fall into the low-margin contract manufacturing category if it fails to build up branding operation in two years.

As for Taiwan government, some measures should be taken to help the island’s LED industry before it becomes another struggling industry in the wake of the island’s DRAM and LCD industry.