Full Breakdown
Seoul Viosys Unveils Rare-Earth-Free White LED Chip
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In this breakdown
01
Core Innovation
Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd., together with its parent Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd., announced the launch of WICOP 3, a chip architecture that generates white light without any rare-earth elements (REEs). The device emits white light directly from gallium nitride (GaN) and can be fabricated at dimensions as small as 10 µm, eliminating the need for a phosphor-based package.
02
Background & Context
Since the early 1990s, white LEDs have relied on a blue LED chip coated with a YAG phosphor layer containing REEs. Earlier generations (WICOP 1 and WICOP 2) enabled mass-production of ultraviolet, blue, green, red and infrared LEDs under 100 µm, but white light still required a packaged phosphor. Founder Chung Hoon Lee directed sustained R&D investment—about $100 million per year—to achieve this breakthrough.
03
Timeline
- WICOP 1 & 2: Developed micro LEDs under 100 µm for multiple colors.
- WICOP 3: Announced in 2026, extending the architecture to rare-earth-free white light.
- Fourth quarter 2026: Planned start of mass production, with initial shipments to customers respecting the company’s IP framework.
04
Data & Statistics
- White LEDs represent roughly USD 10 billion of the USD 15 billion global packaged-LED market.
- WICOP 3 chips can be fabricated at 10 µm and enable micro white LEDs below 100 µm, a size previously unattainable because of the phosphor package limit of 1,000 µm.
- Seoul Semiconductor projects the new technology could create a market “tens of times larger” than today’s white-LED market.
- Omdia forecasts a combined $60 billion market for AR displays and AI data-communication applications that leverage micro-LED arrays within five years.
- An array of 1,000 WICOP chips (?10 µm each) in a 1 mm² grid can transmit data 10 × faster while using 1/10 of the power compared with conventional copper links.
05
Official Statements & Responses
Seoul Semiconductor described WICOP 3 as a “technology free of rare earths” that can replace existing white-LED solutions. The company emphasized that the chip’s composition—pure GaN without plastics, silicone or other synthetic organics—makes it “virtually permanent,” capable of lasting for decades. Seoul Viosys said it will supply the first customers who respect its IP rights and will avoid competing directly with those partners, instead seeking to open new application markets together.
06
Why It Matters
- Supply-chain independence: Removing REEs eliminates reliance on a geopolitically sensitive material.
- Design flexibility: The ultra-small, package-free chips can be embedded in building materials such as wallpaper or window glass, reducing the need for conventional fixtures.
- Extended lifespan: The absence of organic encapsulants and the durability of GaN suggest a decades-long operational life, lowering waste and maintenance costs.
- Enabling next-gen tech: Integration of invisible micro-LEDs into AR glasses and AI-driven data links supports emerging markets in augmented reality and low-power communications.
07
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The performance claims for WICOP 3—particularly the projected market size and data-rate advantages—are based on company projections and have not yet been validated by independent testing. No external benchmark data are available, leaving the scale of the anticipated market impact uncertain.