Green Optics

What Green Optics does

Green Optics (그린광학) is a South Korean precision optics manufacturer founded in 1997/1999 and headquartered in Cheongju, operating approximately 280 employees split between Korea (~230) and Vietnam (~50 via its GO-VINA subsidiary). It functions as a "total optics solution provider," executing design, ultra-precision machining and polishing (including sub-5nm RMS off-axis aspherical mirrors at up to Ø1600mm), multi-layer thin-film coating (IBS, IAD), assembly, and optical analysis/testing (LIDT, CRDS, interferometry) in-house, with a stated in-house production ratio exceeding 90% and approaching 100% for core optical components.

The company serves four interlocking verticals: (1) defense and aerospace — missile seeker domes, inertial navigation optics, SWIR/MWIR/LWIR cameras, and satellite mirrors (including 72 off-axis aspherical mirrors delivered to ISRO and camera modules for Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter); (2) semiconductor and display — KrF/ArF 248/193nm lithography optics, EUV blank mask MRF polishing, OLED manufacturing optics; (3) space — telescopes, large lightweight mirrors, and the LAF-TMS three-mirror off-axis telescope built with KASI; and (4) optical materials — Korea's only domestic producer of CVD ZnS / MS-ZnS, one of roughly five globally, scaling to 1,000 kg/month by end-2025.

Green Optics generates revenue primarily through custom B2B engineering contracts with defense contractors (Korean primes such as Hanwha and LIG Nex1, Israeli and Middle Eastern primes), space agencies (ISRO, NASA, KASI), and semiconductor/display equipment makers (Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display since 2009, plus recently registered global equipment OEMs). Pricing is quote-based per project, with multi-year supply contracts and government-funded programs (e.g., DAPA GVC30) forming the contract backbone. The company has reported 5-year average revenue above 310 billion KRW (~US$220M), has filed for a KOSDAQ listing (preliminary approval September 2025, public offering November 2025), and is expanding both organically — through ZnS capacity doubling and Vietnam production — and via international partnerships including the March 2026 MoU with India's Paras Defence and a July 2025 trilateral drone optics venture with KT and Dim Maker.

Name

Green Optics

Legal name

주식회사 그린광학

Website

https://greenoptics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Green Optics is a South Korean precision optics manufacturer designing, machining, coating, and assembling ultra-high-precision optical components, ZnS materials, and systems for defense, space, semiconductor, and display customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Optics Manufacturing

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic / Photonics Foundries (Silicon Photonics/LED/Laser) (HDAHACAG), Machine Vision & Inspection Lighting (Ring lights, bar lights, backlights, strobed illumination) (IMAGAIAG)

Keywords

• Precision optics manufacturing
• Defense optical components
• Space-grade optical systems
• Semiconductor lithography optics
• Zinc sulfide optical materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheongju

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Optical Components and Systems — Defense & Space: Custom design and manufacturing of high-precision optical components (lenses, mirrors, filters, domes) and camera modules for defense contractors and space agencies. Revenue is project-based, driven by long-term supply contracts and recurring orders from major defense customers internationally.
2. Optical Components — Semiconductor & Display: Supply of precision optical components for semiconductor lithography equipment and flat panel display manufacturing. Includes EUV blank mask substrate polishing technology and OLED panel manufacturing optical systems.
3. ZnS Optical Materials (MS-ZnS / STD-ZnS): Domestic and international sales of CVD ZnS and MS-ZnS optical ceramic materials to defense and aerospace customers. Monthly production capacity of 500 kg, with planned expansion to 1,000 kg scale.
4. Technology Licensing and Co-development: Revenue from joint development programs, technology licensing, and co-development projects with government agencies (DAPA GVC30 program) and international partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Green Optics designs, manufactures, and assembles high-precision optical components and systems for defense, space, semiconductor, and display industries. The company is Korea's sole producer of CVD ZnS and MS-ZnS optical ceramic materials and operates a vertically integrated one-stop service covering optical design, ultra-precision machining, polishing, multi-layer thin-film coating, assembly, and optical performance analysis.

Product overview

Green Optics (그린광학) is a Total Optics Solution Provider offering comprehensive optical product development and manufacturing services from design through evaluation. The portfolio consists of core optical materials (STD-ZnS and MS-ZnS zinc sulfide produced via CVD and HIP processes), defense/special industry optical systems including search optics and cameras (SWIR/MWIR/LWIR), space optical systems (telescopes, satellite cameras, mirrors), and high-tech industry components for semiconductor/display manufacturing. Supporting services include AOTF hyperspectral imaging systems, precision coating, optical analysis/testing (LIDT, CRDS), design services, and manufacturing. The company provides one-stop optical services across aerospace, defense, semiconductor, and display industries with in-house production ratio exceeding 90%.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• STD-ZnS (Standard Zinc Sulfide) Optical Material High-purity zinc sulfide optical material manufactured using the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) process, achieving maximum 70% transmittance in the LWIR band (8-12 μm) with Knoop Hardness exceeding 200 kgf/mm². Used in infrared optical components such as missile seeker domes and IR windows for defense and aerospace customers.
• MS-ZnS (Multi-Spectral Zinc Sulfide) Optical Material High-performance optical ceramic material produced through HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) treatment of CVD ZnS, offering 70% transmittance across a wide wavelength band (0.4-12 μm) from visible to far-infrared. Suitable for multispectral IR sensor windows and missile dome applications.
• Defense and Special Industry Optical Systems Precision optical components for defense applications including search optics, inertial navigation system (INS) components such as gyro mirrors and prisms, and specialized cameras covering SWIR, VIS/SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR wavelengths for target acquisition, thermal imaging, and surveillance systems. Sold to Korean defense integrators and international defense customers.
• Space Optical Systems (Telescopes and Satellite Cameras) Optical systems for space applications including Ø500mm and Ø1600mm telescopes, satellite cameras, primary and secondary mirrors (Zerodur), and lightweight optical mirrors with surface errors RMS < 7.5nm and protected silver coating with >98% reflectance. Supplied to ISRO, NASA, and KASI.
• LAF-TMS Off-axis Freeform Three-Mirror Telescope Off-axis freeform three-mirror telescope developed in collaboration with KASI. Features aperture Ø300mm, focal length 1200mm, F/4, field of view 1.07° × 1.07°, and achieved RMS < 120nm alignment across the full field.
• High-Tech Industry Optical Components for Semiconductor and Display Optical components for semiconductor lithography and flat panel display manufacturing including relay lenses, bending glass, spherical mirrors, fly eye lenses, cylindrical lenses, and Pyrex ellipse mirrors for KrF (248nm) and ArF (193nm) lithography equipment. Supplied to Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, and global lithography equipment makers.
• AOTF Hyperspectral Camera Systems (HSI) Hyperspectral imaging systems based on Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter (AOTF) technology including APMS (Automated Painting Measurement System), LDAS (Lithium Detection Automated System), and ICED (Imaging Colorimeter for Emissive Displays) for non-contact inspection, precision colorimetry, automated inspection, and quality control in industrial and display applications.
• Danuri Lunar Orbiter Camera Lens Module High-resolution camera lens modules for Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter, developed for lunar surface and Earth imaging during the country's lunar exploration mission.
• EUV Blank Mask Substrate Polishing Service Atom-level polishing service using Magneto-Rheological Finishing (MRF) for EUV blank mask quartz substrates, achieving sub-angstrom surface precision on 153mm × 153mm substrates for semiconductor lithography equipment manufacturers.
• Optical Coating Services Multi-layer thin film coating services including AR (Anti-Reflection), HR (High-Reflection), Dichroic Mirror/Filter, Band Pass Filter, Beam Splitter, ND Filter, and specialized coatings for ring laser gyroscopes achieving <250 ppm absorption and up to 99.99% reflectance.
• Optical Analysis and Testing Services Precision measurement and quality verification services including LIDT (Laser-Induced Damage Threshold) testing compliant with ISO 21254, CRDS (Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy) for high reflectance measurement at 10⁻⁶ precision, large mirror measurement up to Ø1200mm, and stitching technology for products over 500mm.
• Optical Design Services Integrated optical, mechanical, and electronic design services including reflective and illumination optical systems, SWIR/MWIR systems, athermalization, tolerance analysis, and structural/thermal/vibration analysis for defense, space, and high-tech industries.
• Precision Manufacturing and Polishing Services Ultra-precision machining and polishing services including 5-axis to 7-axis machining, aspheric manufacturing (RMS ≤ 0.1μm), lightweight mirror machining (up to 82.5% weight reduction), gyro block machining (parallelism within 158nm), and large optics up to Ø1600mm.

Quantifiable outcome

• MS-ZnS production cost reduced by 65% compared to sapphire for missile dome applications, with full-spectrum transparency from visible to IR
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and significant.

• DAPA — Defense Acquisition Program Administration (Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Selected for the GVC30 national strategic support program led by DAPA for mass production of MS-ZnS (Multi-Spectral Zinc Sulfide) for defense and aerospace applications. Government-funded program includes acquisition of approximately 6 billion KRW Hot Isostatic Press system to establish full-scale mass production for guided weapons, thermal imaging equipment, and surveillance systems domes.
• KT Corporation (KT충남충북광역본부)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Trilateral partnership with KT and Dim Maker for drone industry development. Green Optics contributes precision optical imaging systems and gimbal development for drone hardware localization. KT provides 5G infrastructure, RTK-based precise positioning, and quantum cryptography communication. The partnership aims to develop domestically produced drone service solutions and increase the nationalization rate of drone hardware.
• Dim MakercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025AI technology and autonomous flight system developer for drones; collaborating with Green Optics and KT on drone optical imaging systems. Pursuing 100% nationalization of drone hardware in Korea.
• Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding collaboration on space telescope and optical mirror development. Joint development of K-DRIFT (KASI-Deep Rolling Imaging Fast optics Telescope), a 300mm aperture off-axis freeform three-mirror telescope achieving observations comparable to the 8.2m Subaru telescope. Green Optics manufactured all three mirrors (primary, secondary, tertiary) and conducted assembly and alignment.
• NASA / NOIRLab (National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory)significantTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with NASA and the U.S. National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory on silicon carbide (SiC) and cordierite optical mirror processing technology and ultra-precision polishing technology development.
• Paras Defence and Space TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed March 4, 2026 for joint development and manufacturing of optics and optical systems for space and defense applications. The partnership leverages Green Optics' precision optics manufacturing capability and Paras Defence's defense systems integration expertise. Paras Defence's share price rose ~10-12% following the announcement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Lambda Research Optics: US-based precision optics manufacturer specializing in laser optics, UV/IR optics, and thin-film coatings for industrial and research customers. Comparable product mix to Green Optics' coating and precision optics businesses but with smaller scale and narrower end-market focus.

Direct peers

• SCHOTT AG: German specialty glass and advanced ceramics maker with a long-standing IR materials franchise including chalcogenide glasses and IR-transparent ceramics. Comparable to Green Optics in defense and aerospace IR optics, and competes in the same global ZnS/IR material supplier set.
• Jenoptik AG: German precision optics company serving semiconductor equipment, defense, and aerospace with optical components, laser optics, and lithography modules. Highly comparable to Green Optics across semiconductor lithography optics, defense optical systems, and space optics.
• Coherent Corp (formerly II-VI): One of the world's largest manufacturers of infrared/optical materials including ZnS and multispectral ZnS, serving defense and aerospace markets with optical ceramics and laser optics. Most direct global competitor in ZnS production, and comparable in defense IR optics, hyperspectral imaging, and laser gyro mirror coatings.
• Edmund Optics: Global supplier of precision optical components (lenses, mirrors, filters, coatings) for industrial, semiconductor, defense, and life sciences applications. Comparable to Green Optics' optical components portfolio and serves overlapping end markets including machine vision and inspection.
• Thorlabs: US-based photonics components manufacturer offering optics, lasers, optomechanics, and hyperspectral imaging modules. Comparable product breadth in optical components and AOTF/ hyperspectral imaging, with overlap in research, industrial, and defense customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Carl Zeiss (ZEISS): Global optics and optoelectronics conglomerate with strong positions in semiconductor lithography optics, defense optics, and space/satellite systems. Operates as a broad incumbent competing with Green Optics in lithography and high-precision defense optics, but at much larger scale and across a broader portfolio.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Large defense and aerospace prime with in-house optical/photonic capabilities including ring laser gyroscopes, inertial navigation optics, and missile seeker systems. Comparable end-customer profile to Green Optics' defense segment and competes for missile seeker dome and INS optical component supply.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Japanese photonics and optoelectronics company producing optical sensors, IR detectors, hyperspectral imaging systems, and specialty optical components. Comparable to Green Optics in hyperspectral imaging and IR optical systems, and operates as a broader incumbent across photonics end markets.
• Nikon Corporation (Semiconductor Lithography): Major manufacturer of semiconductor lithography systems with in-house optical component production. Green Optics supplies lithography optical components to global equipment makers including Nikon's competitors; Nikon represents the broad-incumbent customer/competitor in semiconductor optics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@그린광학-h8q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-optics-co-ltd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Green Optics