LG said it would spend 666 billion won (580 million dollars) by the second quarter of next year to raise its monthly PDP production capacity to 285,000 modules from 165,000.

LG, the world's third largest PDP maker after Samsung SDI and Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display, aims to increase its global market share to 30 percent by 2005 from last year's 18 percent in the sector.

"This investment is to strengthen the PDP module business and attain the position of the world's largest largest producer," it said in a statement.

"We will channel our resources into the ... PDP business," it said, adding its investment was prompted by growing demand for flat television screens.

Fujitsu has maintained its global leadership since it produced the world's first commercial 21-inch full-color PDP in 1992.

Samsung and LG have invested heavily in an effort to secure the world's top spot in the fast-growing and lucrative market of PDPs, the key component of large-sized plasma TVs and a major display technology competing with liquid crystal display to replace traditional cathode-ray tube screens.

A patent row, which erupted last month between Samsung and Fujitsu, highlighted growing competion in PDP and such hi-tech products.

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