“Samsung withdrew”… K Lens Company competes with Germany and Japan, technology is no joke

“The domestic optical industry was in crisis when Samsung Electronics, which led the K-optical industry, eliminated its optical division in 2015. Currently, there are only small and medium-sized businesses. “LK Samyang, which has a 50-year history, will revive the K-optical industry by actively entering the traditional camera interchangeable lens market as well as new businesses such as cutting-edge lenses.”

In a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper, LK Samyang CEO Koo Bon-wook emphasized that he would become a ‘savior’ for the K Optical Industry. LK Samyang (formerly Samyang Optics), established in September 1972, is the only company in Korea that produces interchangeable lenses for cameras based on glass material molding processing technology. It was listed on KOSDAQ in 2017.

The main product is interchangeable lenses for DSLR and mirrorless cameras used for photo and video shooting. We have established an integrated production system from lens design to parts processing and assembly, and are selling finished products worldwide.

LK Samyang’s strength is its glass material molding processing technology. CEO Koo said, “In the interchangeable lens market, which is dominated by German and Japanese companies, the technology we have accumulated and our ability to produce cost-effective products are competitive advantages that can be utilized in new businesses,” adding, “Japanese interchangeable lens companies have a two-year product development period. “In comparison, LK Samyang has the ability to develop within one year, so it is responding quickly to market changes,” he said.

Representative Koo pointed out that the domestic optical industry is currently in crisis. He said, “After Samsung Electronics withdrew from the optical business in 2015 due to low profits, its partner companies went bankrupt one after another, ending its existence. Currently, no domestic company except LK Samyang is engaged in the interchangeable lens business.” . With the smartphone craze, optical lenses for smartphones were also in the spotlight at one time, but Gegu explained that domestic companies are struggling due to competition from China.

CEO Koo pointed out, “It is difficult to secure excellent optical engineers.” He lamented, “Optical design requires a related major, such as physics, but domestic universities are reducing the number of related departments, and if optical design personnel are trained in-house, they are often taken away by large companies.”

Although the business environment is not easy, LK Samyang is determined to revive the K-optics industry by actively entering new businesses. CEO Koo cited machine vision lenses, which are industrial inspection equipment, and cutting-edge lenses for drones and satellites as future growth engines.

Machine vision lenses for secondary battery or display exterior inspection have already been designed and produced in-house and are being supplied to Samsung, LG, SK Hynix, etc. In collaboration with domestic machine vision camera and equipment manufacturers, we have also begun reviewing the development of optical systems required for future next-generation inspection equipment.

CEO Koo was confident that the company could play an important role in aerospace, especially in the field of small satellite optical solutions. He said, “We are jointly developing a next-generation star tracker for deep space navigation with Telefix, a satellite image analysis solution startup,” and added, “We will complete development within this year and install our lens on the satellite launched by SpaceX next year to improve performance in space.” “We plan to test it,” he explained.

Thermal imaging cameras, a new business, are also attracting attention in relation to the recent series of electric vehicle fires. On the 26th, a business agreement was signed with GS Engineering & Construction to develop an early detection system for apartment electric vehicle fires, and the company decided to engage in joint research and development (R&D) with the goal of commercialization in the second half of next year. LK Samyang is responsible for the abnormal temperature detection system at the bottom of electric vehicles and the smart CCTV-based integrated (parking, security, and safety) control system.

LK Samyang is also working on training human resources. In addition to operating a scholarship program for domestic optical design students, we are also working to foster domestic optical design talent by recruiting graduates.