Asian countries are paying it an attention that Korean digital printing market has constantly been increasing for recent years. Several Asian experts, who have been involved in large format digital printing (LFP) system, visited Ko-Sign 2003 so as to analyze Korean market trend.

Korean market is much bigger than Japanese



Tezuka Koichiro, International marketing supervisor of Mutoh Inc.
When it comes to Korean digital printing market, I am so surprised that there have already been a variety of large format digital printers available in Korea. Korean market is much bigger than Japaneseﾕs in over 50 inch digital printers. Also, Korean market is quite different from Southeast Asian countries including Singapore and Taiwan, on that point that Korea market requires high-quality graphics from state-of-the art digital printing technology. It seems that Korean digital printing market has been highly active because a great number of manufacturers and suppliers have produced and offered high quality inks and media for its market.



Digital printing banner represents Korean unique sign culture



Assihama Eiichi, CEO of Seik I Infotech Co.
In Korean sign industry, digital printing banners are in high demand. However, due to high cost for digital printing, digital printing banners hold only 10% market share in Japan. I think digital printing banner represents Korean unique sign culture. It is, in Korea, used as outdoor advertising without any finishing work after printing graphics on fabrics, meanwhile while in Japan, most of graphics have to be attached on a panel like MDF so that they can be applied for outdoor advertisement. It is totally because of different culture. Japan appears to more stick to formalities than Korea.



Wide ranges of advertising media are available in Korean Market



Stella Ho, President of Teckwin Inc.
I am so deeply impressed that splendid graphics with high quality are produced by a variety of large format digital printers, and a wide range of advertising media are available in Korean market. I can expect that Korean market will dramatically develop because of numerous ad media, which graphics with high visual impact can be applied into. Since 1999, Chinese digital printing market has strikingly been growing up as well. It is no exaggeration to say that our digital printing technology started from solvent digital printer without steps from water-based inks to oil-based inks. Most graphics from large format digital printers have primarily been used for outdoor applications. That is why digital printers using solvent-based inks are in the limelight of outdoor advertising market in China.



Korean LFP technology is world-class



Raymond P. C. Yuk, President of YAT FUNG METAL
Comparing the population and size of a country, Korean digital printing market is much bigger than other nearby countries. Korean people seem to be particular about digital printing quality. Chinese take much more of price on digital printing system, while Korean regard digital printing quality as the most important factor. Like Korean market, Chinese market has gone through the same process of digital printing industry and solvent digital printer has become the latest technology in the industry.