Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
CES 2026 LG Display eyes humanoid robots, reinforces tech edge after turnaround
LG Display CEO Jeong Cheol-dong
By Kang Seung-woo
CEO says robot displays mirror automotive applications
LAS VEGAS — As humanoid robots emerged as one of the most visible trends at CES 2026, LG Display CEO Jeong Cheol-dong said the company is preparing to respond to new display form factors, signaling a potential expansion of its display portfolio beyond traditional consumer electronics and automotive applications.
After completing a hard-won turnaround, LG Display is also shifting its focus toward building a sustainable profit structure through technology-driven cost innovation, he added.
Jeong noted that this year’s CES demonstrated how last year’s discussions around physical artificial intelligence (AI) are beginning to materialize, particularly through the growing presence of humanoid robots.
“Some companies are showing a very high level, while others are not yet at a stage where commercialization is possible,” Jeong said. “Still, seeing so many humanoid robots made me think that displays also need to innovate in step with these changes.”
Jeong emphasized that the rise of humanoid robots does not pose a disruptive shift for LG Display, explaining that display requirements for robots are similar to those of automotive applications, where the company already has strong technological capabilities.
“It is not surprising because the display specifications required for humanoid robots are similar to automotive display standards,” he said. “We already have technologies such as plastic OLEDs that offer high reliability and enable curved designs.”
LG Display showcased OLED panels designed for humanoid robots for the first time at CES 2026. However, Jeong stressed that the robotics industry remains in an early phase when it comes to defining display interfaces.
“From what I see, robotics companies have not yet made clear decisions on display interfaces,” he said, adding that LG Display is well positioned to respond proactively once demand takes clearer shape by leveraging experience accumulated through years in the automotive display business.
Jeong said LG Display’s management priorities have shifted following its earnings turnaround after more than two years of cost cuts, portfolio restructuring and operational improvements.
“The market is changing so fast that it is difficult to make predictions,” he said. “Rather than forecasting the cycle, what matters is building competitiveness that will not be shaken by changes in the external environment.”
With the turnaround largely complete, LG Display is now prioritizing long-term stability over short-term performance. In his New Year’s address, Jeong named technology leadership, cost reduction and AI transformation (AX) as the company’s three core management directions for 2026.
LG Display showcases a 33-inch slidable OLED display at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, highlighting the growing trend toward larger automotive screens. Courtesy of LG Display
“Our goal is not short-term profit this year or next,” he said. “It is to build a sustainable and stable profit structure in the long term. Overwhelming technological capability is the answer.”
Jeong stressed that technology leadership must be paired with cost competitiveness, as customers increasingly demand both advanced performance and reasonable pricing.
To meet those expectations, LG Display is accelerating its AX strategy alongside its virtual design (VD) platform. Combining AX with VD improves development speed and efficiency across product design and manufacturing, he said.
“For panel development, you normally need to test many conditions,” Jeong said. “Virtual design allows us to narrow that down to two or three cases before actual production, reducing costs and shortening timelines.”
Jeong emphasized that the company’s cost reduction differs from conventional approaches based on cheaper materials or price cuts. Instead, LG Display is pursuing technology-driven cost innovation through process improvements, material optimization and simplified manufacturing structures.