[THE INVESTOR] Tech giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are expected to benefit from an increasing demand for high-end TV products, including ultra-high definition TVs, at home and abroad, according to a report July 14.

The report by the Science Ministry and Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute cites the planned commercialization of UHD broadcasting services in Korea in February 2017 as the main reason behind the sales increase in the coming years.

UHD TVs valued at 1.2 trillion won (US$1.05 billion) are forecast to be sold locally this year, up from 971.4 billion won in 2015. In 2014, the figure stood at 708.8 billion won, and it was even lower at 76.2 billion won in 2013.



Annual sales are expected to reach 1.5 trillion won in 2019.

The proportion of the UHD TVs in the entire TV sales in Korea will also increase from 33.6 percent in 2015 to 53.1 percent in 2016, the report noted.

In 2019, the figure will reach 66 percent, approximately a third of the domestic TV sales.

Global sales of the premium TVs will likely be on an upward trend from 990.9 billion won in 2015 to 1.4 trillion won in 2016, according to the report.

Samsung and LG are the only Korean tech firms that roll out the high-end TVs.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)