[KOREA][TECH] Samsung surprised by Sony’s partnership with SHARP for LCD manufacturing

February 27, 2008 by Dennis Amith

Chosun reported, “Sony’s announcement Tuesday that it has agreed to set up a joint venture with Sharp for the manufacture of next-generation liquid-crystal display panels has put Samsung Electronics, Sony’s long-time partner in LCDs, on red alert. Huge losses, tangible or intangible, seem inevitable for the Korean conglomerate, which is already battered by a corruption scandal.”"Since establishing LCD panel joint venture S-LCD in 2003, Samsung and Sony have maintained a close relationship, bearing an equal share of expenses in the construction of new factories. When new plants were built in 2004 and 2006, Sony invested some W1 trillion to W1.3 trillion each time (US$1=W947).”