[News] South Korea’s LX Semicon Sells More Than 60 Patents, Marking its Exits from SiC Market

What happened

South Korean chipmaker LX Semicon has announced the sale of its silicon carbide (SiC)-related patents, marking its formal exit from the SiC market. According to disclosed information, the company is selling a portfolio of more than 60 patents covering SiC power semiconductor devices and epitaxial wafers, with an expected sale price of less than KRW 1 billion; the patents cover SiC MOSFET technologies (including planar and trench-gate structures, termination and gate-pad designs) as well as epitaxial wafer technologies, span South Korea, the United States, China's mainland, Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and some remain valid until 2045. The patents are being sold to a South Korean power semiconductor company, although specific transaction details have not been disclosed. As to causes: industry observers point to stagnant electric vehicle demand, which has slowed growth in the SiC market and dampened near-term return expectations; since Lee Yoon-tae took over as CEO in late 2023, the company has shifted focus to core businesses and streamlined operations through asset disposals, having already downsized its SiC R&D team in 2024; financial pressure added urgency, as annual revenue declined for three consecutive years, falling from KRW 2.1193 trillion in 2022 to KRW 1.6391 trillion in 2025, and in the first half of 2026 revenue dropped 7.6% year on year while operating profit plunged 39%, with display driver ICs (DDIs) still accounting for more than 86% of total revenue. The sale marks the final step of LX Semicon's retreat from SiC, following its earlier liquidation of its power device joint venture with Japan's Sanken Electric.

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Source: TrendForce · 10/22/2026 · View original source