Top executives of South Korea’s major electronics, components, and display companies set their sights on the robotics industry as a key growth driver. Moving beyond high-level strategy, these CEOs are visiting the field personally to assess technological trends. In particular, leaders from LG Display and Samsung Electro-Mechanics were spotted examining the robot demonstrations at the Hyundai Motor group booth, studying core elements like displays, sensors, and actuators. Their visits have sparked interest in potential collaborations with robotics clients.
On Wednesday, LG Display CEO Jeong Cheol-dong spent about 15 minutes at the Hyundai Motor Group booth at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, closely examining Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas and the quadruped robot Spot.
In an exclusive interview after the tour, Jeong revealed ongoing discussions with Hyundai regarding displays for robots. As LG Display currently supplies large panels to Hyundai, this indicates a potential expansion of their partnership from automotive to robotics.
Earlier in the week, Jeong expressed confidence in their humanoid OLED business vision for the AI era. “If you look at the exhibits, you will see that LG Display is prepared,” he noted. True to his word, LG Display showcased a 7-inch display designed specifically for the face of a humanoid robot.
On the same day, Samsung Electro-Mechanics CEO Jang Deok-hyun also visited the Hyundai booth to assess robotics trends, including the Atlas robot. He praised the demonstrations afterward, saying, “The movements were natural and the products were impressive.”
Samsung Electro-Mechanics is positioning robotics as a next-generation growth driver. The company already holds a competitive edge in electronic components for robotic systems, such as sensors and cameras. They recently invested in Alba Industries, a Norwegian firm developing actuators for humanoid robot hands. Jang noted their active collaboration with robot companies on cameras, MLCCs, and circuit boards.
At CES, Jang stated that he had met with several clients in robotics and physical AI. Sharing his vision, he stated, “In the future, agent AI will replace human cognition, while physical AI will substitute human labor. We’re focusing on autonomous driving and humanoid robots as the key developments in these areas.”
