A backlight unit for a 42-inch LCD TV was manufactured with red, green, and blue LED lamps. The luminous and light extraction efficiencies of the LED lamps were increased by improving their light reflection structures and thermal properties. The blue, green, and red LED lamps showed different luminous efficiencies as a function of the input current. Compared to the conventional red LED lamp, however, the developed red LED lamp showed very high luminous efficiency in a low drive current. Taking these luminous efficiencies into account, the fabricated backlight unit showed high energy efficiency, low power consumption, and a wide color gamut.