Backlight units and display devices including the same

A display device comprising:

• a display panel which displays an image;
• a backlight unit which supplies the display panel with light;
• an upper cover;
• and
• a lower cover,
• wherein the upper and lower covers accommodate the display panel and the backlight unit therein,
• wherein the backlight unit includes:
• a plurality of light guide plates each including a light incident surface through which the light is incident, and a light emitting surface through which the light is guided and emitted, wherein the light guide plates are spaced apart from each other with the light incident surfaces facing each other;
• a light source part including a printed circuit board, and a plurality of light source units each including light sources spaced apart from each other and on the printed circuit board, wherein the light source part is in a space between the light guide plates;
• an optical member which faces a light emitting side of the light guide plates;
• and
• an optical diffusion member including:
• a diffusing part which is between the optical member and the space disposed between the light guide plates, wherein the diffusion part diffuses light that is emitted from the light sources and leaks through the space between the light guide plates, and
• a supporting part which protrudes from the diffusing part in a direction opposite to the light emitting side of the light guide plates, and is in a space between the light sources,
• wherein adjacent light sources respectively emit light in opposite directions.