LG Electronics

1947-1980 - Founding of Lucky Chemicals and Goldstar

The company was founded in 1947 in Busan .

The founding date of LG Electronics is considered to be the date of founding of the first company in the LG Group conglomerate - Lak Hui Chemical ^[3] . The company's first products were toothpaste and face cream called Lucky.

October 1, 1958 - Lak Hui Chemical founds Goldstar (subsequently LG Electronics). From this moment, the company begins to work on the design and manufacture of electrical appliances and household appliances ^[3] .

• 1959 - the first device leaves the GoldStar conveyor - the first transistor radio in Korea at that time.
• 1960 - the country's first electric fan is launched on the national market.
• 1965 - The company develops the first refrigerator in Korea.
• 1966 - the first black-and-white television in Korea ^[4] . In the same year, Lak Hui Chemical was renamed Lucky Chemical Ind.
• 1967 - An oil refinery is built on shares with Caltex.
• 1969 - the first washing machine in South Korea is produced.
• 1969 - the death of the founder of the companies Lak Hui Chemical and GoldStar Ku In-Hwoi (Koo In-Hwoi), both enterprises are headed by his son Ku Cha Kyun (Koo Cha-Kyung). The network of subsidiaries is united under the general name Lucky Group.
• 1970 - GoldStar introduces an automatic multi-button telephone. In the same year, Koo Cha-Kyung (Koo Cha-Kyung) decides to start production of color TVs.
• 1973 - GoldStar launches the first Korean cassette player-recorder.
• 1975 - another GoldStar plant was built in the city of Kumi .
• 1976 - GoldStar opens the largest home appliance factory in Korea at the time in Changwon .
• 1976 - GoldStar establishes Korea’s first private research center.
• 1977 - Korea’s first GoldStar color TV is launched.

The end of the 70s - GoldStar invested in the production of semiconductors, which subsequently allowed the company to start production of its own microcircuits. R&D agreements were signed with AT&T, NEC, Siemens and Hitachi.

• 1978 - GoldStar's total exports exceed $ 100 million in monetary terms.
• 1980 - GoldStar begins importing its products abroad, thereby becoming the first Korean company to manufacture consumer electronics in the world market.

1980-1995 - Becoming a Global Goldstar Brand

• 1981 - Release of the first Korean video recorder, developed in conjunction with Hitachi, which instantly becomes the best-selling video recorder in Asian markets.
• 1982 - in the state of Alabama (Huntsville), the first GoldStar factory opens outside of Korea, whose strategic task is to ensure the production of color TVs, the most expensive equipment for transportation / export.
• 1983 - GoldStar establishes the first Korean design laboratory owned by a private company.
• 1983 - Release of the first GoldStar brand CD player in Korea.
• 1984 - GoldStar launches Korea’s first microwave oven.
• 1985 - Creation of a laboratory for product testing.
• 1987 - Opening of the Goldstar Electronics Deutschland (later GoldStar Europe GmbH) factory in Worms, Germany. The main equipment produced at the plant, like in the USA, is color TVs.
• 1990 - The opening of the GoldStar Design Center in Ireland.
• 1994 - GoldStar buys a 57% stake in the American television company Zenith Electronics, a 3% stake in 3DO Corporation, and also signs a contract with IBM. The engineers of the companies are jointly engaged in the development of multimedia technologies, as a result of which game consoles with three-dimensional graphics appear. In the same year, Goldstar merged with the Japanese ALPS, as a result of which the Frontec research laboratory appeared to work on the creation of active LCD arrays, plasma panels and plasma technologies.

1995-2005 - the merger of Lucky and Goldstar, the formation of the LG brand

• 1995 - all subsidiaries of the Lucky Group corporation merge under the same name LG (Lucky Goldstar), resulting in LG Electronics.
• 1995 - retirement of Ku Cha-Kyung (Koo Cha-Kyung), his successor becomes the grandson of the founder Ku Bon Mu (Koo Bon-Moo).
• 1996 - LG Electronics forms a strategic program for 9 years, which is called Technology leadership - LEAP 2005 and the slogan "Leap for 2005". The corporation is tasked with improving the quality and increasing the number of products manufactured, receiving 50% of its income from sales in the world market. According to the plan, by 2005 the company’s turnover was to be $ 40 billion.
• 1997 - LG Electronics creates the world's first digital television chip.
• 1998 - LG Electronics announces the world's first 60-inch plasma screen.
• 1999 - a joint venture between LG Electronics and Philips Electronics , LG.Philips LCD, was created.
• 2000 - Gumi LCD Plant P3 LCD Matrix Plant was launched.
• 2001 - LG Electronics introduces Korea’s first 20.1-inch LCD TV. In April of the same year, the idea of ​​the Digital Home was developed, a microwave oven, a washing machine and air conditioning with Internet access appeared on the market. Since May 2001, the export of plasma panels has begun.
• 2001 - LG Electronics begins producing GSM mobile phones.
• 2002 - LG Electronics launches the release of GSM telephones with color displays. In less than a year, mobile phone exports are 2.5 million units.

2005-2019 - Latest LG Brand History

• 2006 - Opening of the LG Electronics household appliance factory in the Ruzsky district of the Moscow region in the village of Dorokhovo.
• 2007 - LG Electronics patented the 4G communication format in GSMA mobile phones and was the first in the world to demonstrate 4G LTE technology.
• 2008 - Collaboration begins with Conergy to create LG solar panels.
• 2009 - LG Electronics becomes the technology partner of Formula 1.
• 2010 - Korea’s first hybrid solar-powered air conditioner is announced in Korea, as well as the world's first single-lens 3D projector.
• 2010 - Launch of the LG Optimus sub-brand - Android smartphones. LG-P500 Optimus One (circulation worldwide exceeded 50 million units) is becoming one of the best-selling smartphones in the world. The world's first smartphone with a dual-core processor LG-P990 Optimus 2X is released .
• 2011 - Launches LG Optimus Black Smartphone with Unprecedented High display brightness indicator (700 nit), as well as the world's first smartphone with a stereoscopic 3D display that does not require glasses - LG Optimus 3D . All smartphones are running Android mobile OS.

In the same year, LG Electronics launched the LG Cinema 3D line of 3D televisions, the first 3D televisions to use the polarized 3D imaging system, FPR .

• 2012 - Having signed another contract with PRADA, LG launches the LG Prada 3.0 smartphone. LG launches a new line of smartphones on the Android platform "Series L", the first smartphones of which are L3 , L5 , L7 .

In April 2019, LG released a new generation of the smartphone LG X4, sales in Korea will begin on April 26 ^[5] .

LG Home Entertainment ^[6] (home entertainment equipment) is a division of the company that specializes in the manufacture of LCD and plasma TVs, video and audio, as well as monitors and laptops. This line of business is a priority for LG Electronics, the volume of the sold product LG Home Entertainment is the highest among business units. According to 2010 data, the total sales volume of LG Home Entertainment products amounted to $ 10.7 billion, which is 22.1% of the total sales of LG Electronics for the year ^[7] .

Main Products ^[6]

• LCD TVs and monitors
• Plasma panels
• OLED TVs ^[8] (in particular, with UHD resolution ^[9] )
• Digital video products (DVD recorders, DVD players , portable DVD players and digital set-top boxes, Blu-ray players)
• Laptops
• Digital audio products (home cinema, karaoke and hi-fi systems)
• Car Audio

The division’s priority business line is the production of premium TVs with support for the Smart TV platform and 3D TVs using the “polarizing” technology for creating 3D images - FPR (LG Cinema 3D TV line).

LG Home Appliances ^[10] (household appliances) is a division of the company that specializes in the production and sale of large and small household appliances, as well as household air and water purification systems. According to 2010 data, total sales of LG Home Appliances products amounted to $ 5.15 billion, which is 10.7% of total LG Electronics sales for the year ^[7] .

Main Products ^[10]

• Washing machines ;
• Vacuum cleaners;
• Refrigerators;
• Dishwashers;
• Microwaves;
• Built-in appliances;
• Household air purifiers;
• Household water filters;
• Bread makers .

The division’s priority business line is the production of premium household appliances, with the functions of connecting to the Internet, synchronization with a mobile phone and self-learning programs - the household appliance segment with similar functionality received the THINQ prefix.

In addition, the Linear Compressor gas engine compressor developed by LG Electronics is used in the manufacture of refrigerators, air conditioners, industrial freezers and other refrigeration devices. .

LG Mobile Communications ^[11] (mobile technology) is a division of the company that specializes in the production and sale of classic LG Optimus mobile phones and smartphones running Android mobile OS, as well as accessories for them. According to 2010 data, the total sales of LG Mobile Communications products amounted to $ 6.6 billion, which is 13.8% of the total sales of LG Electronics for the year ^[7] .

Main Products ^[11]

• Cell phones
• Android smartphones Optimus
• Smartphones based on the Windows Phone 7 mobile OS
• Tablet computers

The priority business area of ​​the division is the production of innovative smartphones in both the premium and mass market segments, the development of the direction of polarized 3D displays, as well as displays with increased energy efficiency. The introduction into everyday life of smartphones with multi-core processors, as well as smartphones that support the 4G LTE communication standard.

In 2011, LG Mobile Communications demonstrated:

• The world's first smartphone with a 3D display - LG Optimus 3D
• The smartphone with the brightest display at the moment - LG Optimus Black
• The world's first tablet computer with an integrated 3D camera and supporting playback of photos and video files in 3D - LG Optimus Tab

LG Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions ^[12] (air conditioning and energy-saving products) is a division of the company that specializes in the manufacture and sale of air conditioning and air purification systems for both private and industrial applications. The division also manufactures energy-saving products - such as solar panels and lighting systems, smart thermostats, as well as heating control systems.

According to 2010 data, total sales of LG Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions products amounted to $ 4.62 billion, which is 9.6% of total LG Electronics sales for the year ^[7] .

Main Products ^[12]

• Household air conditioners
• Household air purifiers
• Industrial air conditioners and air purifiers
• Solar panels
• Lighting systems
• Thermostats and heating control systems

The priority business of the division is the development of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies in both the private and industrial segments of the market. The introduction of energy-efficient technologies (such as solar panels and heating control systems) in the private consumer sector ^[12] .

The company's consolidated sales in 2010 amounted to 48.2 billion dollars (55.8 trillion Korean won) ^[7] .

At the moment, the company’s logo is a stylized image - a “face” of a red tint (there are two types - 2D and 3D logos. The 3D logo is closer to pink) and, in fact, the abbreviation of the LG brand. The official slogan of the company is Life is Good.

LG decodes its logo:

The letters “L” and “G” in the circle symbolize the world, future, youth, humanity and technology. Colors: red - the main color - symbolizes the friendliness and intention of LG Electronics to produce the best quality products; gray color indicates manufacturability and reliability. Face: a stylized image of a smiling face conveys a friendly attitude and accessibility. One eye on the image means that LG Electronics is focused on the result, focused and confident. The circle represents the globe, symbolizing the world and all of humanity, as well as youth and the future. Shape: The upper right corner of the LG Electronics logo, intentionally left blank, gives asymmetry to the image - a sign of LG Electronics creativity and ability to change.

LGERP (Russia R&D Lab)

In 1997, the LG Software Lab in St. Petersburg was opened. In 2006, it was reorganized into a division of LGE Mobile Communications Company and was named LGERP ( LG Electronics Russia - St. Petersburg).

The laboratory is represented by four main areas, the development of which is in the interests of the Mobile Communications Company and Home Entertainment Company, which are part of LG Electronics, as well as other companies that are part of the LG Group (LG Chemical, LG Innotech, etc.):

• SW platform - development and support of software solutions and platforms.
• UI solutions - development of platforms for graphical and user interfaces, creation and development of mobile content.
• Design and Simulation - development of software for the design, simulation and analysis of mechanical, electromagnetic, optical, thermal and other systems.
• Product Validation - testing mobile phones before entering the markets of Russia and the CIS countries.

The laboratory employs about 130 people.

LGERP cooperates with educational institutions of the city. In November 2004, the LG PolyREC Research and Education Center ( LG Poly technic Research and Education C enter) was established on the basis of the St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University . LG PolyREC trains specialists for LGERP and conducts scientific research for the LG Group .

Currently, in the village of Dorokhovo near Moscow, there is a large LG Electronics factory producing refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and computer monitors (opened in 2006). In August 2009, following a visit to Moscow by the president of the company in the CIS countries, it was decided to build a third assembly shop (currently there are two) ^[13] .

In 1996, LG Electronics opened a representative office in Ukraine , which is engaged in the export of consumer electronics to Ukraine and provides information support for products.

During its work in Ukraine, the LG Electronics representative office sponsored a number of events, including television programs such as “Chance” and “ Karaoke on the Maidan ”, the intelligence show “Eureka” and the Karaoke festival ^[14] . LG Electronics was also the sponsor of weather forecasts on the New Channel and STB , the sponsor of the culinary heading in the morning program “Rise”, the sponsor of the Korean TV show “The Pearl of the Court, or the Emperor's Cook” (Dae Jang Geum) ^[15] . In the summer of 2011, LG Electronics Ukraine launched a long-term social project in support of the voluntary donation “Kraplina krovi - zhtyty people!”. ^[16] And in October 2011, it resumed deliveries to the Ukrainian laptop market ^[17] , introducing immediately three new lines - the Blade business series, LG A530 3D laptop and the budget S-series.

In 1994 (after the merger of Lucky and Goldstar), the company's board of directors identified the main priorities of LG's activities in the field of social and environmental responsibility:

• rejection of toxic materials in production
• implementation of the most energy-efficient solutions in technology
• ubiquitous introduction of raw materials recycling technologies
• supporting social campaigns against hunger and poverty

In Russia, LG Electronics is a regular partner of the “I am a Donor” movement, a volunteer movement for voluntary blood donation.

In 1994, the board of directors of LG Electronics identified another priority in the social policy of the brand - support and sponsorship of sports events.

As of 2010, LG Electronics is:

• Formula 1, the general technical partner of races, supplies machinery and equipment, and also provides technical support in the organization of races;

• A permanent partner and sponsor of the FIS World Cup - the largest international winter sports championship held every year in 15 countries of the world;

• The official sponsor of the World Cricket Championship and general partner of the ICC (International Cricket Council) and the sponsor of events held by ICC;

• Partner of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) - the North American Sports Association, which annually holds football and basketball championships between US educational institutions;

• Sponsor and partner of COPA America, South America's oldest and largest football championship.

• Official site LG Electronics
• The official website for LG B2B business solutions