LG Electronics

1958–1960s

In 1958, LG Electronics was founded as GoldStar (Korean: 금성). It was established in the aftermath of the Korean War to provide the rebuilding nation with domestically produced consumer electronics and home appliances. The start of the country's national broadcasting that created a booming electronics market and a close relationship it quickly forged with Hitachi helped GoldStar to produce South Korea's first radios, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners.^[5] GoldStar was the electronics division of Lak-Hui (pronounced "Lucky") Chemical Industrial Corp. which is now LG Chem and LG Household & Health Care. GoldStar merged with Lucky Chemical and GoldStar Cable on 28 February 1995, changing the corporate name to Lucky-Goldstar and then finally to LG Electronics.

1970s–1990s

Goldstar first went public in 1970; by 1976, it was producing one million televisions annually.^[6] In 1978, the company also surpassed US$100 million in exports.^[7] In 1982, Goldstar opened its first overseas factory, which was based in Huntsville, Alabama. In 1994, GoldStar officially adopted the LG Electronics brand and a new corporate logo. In 1995, LG Electronics acquired the US-based TV manufacturer Zenith and absorbed it four years later. Also in that year, LG Electronics made the world's first CDMA digital mobile handsets and supplied Ameritech and GTE in the US, the LGC-330W digital cellular phone. The company was also awarded UL certification in the US. In 1998, LG developed the world's first 60-inch plasma TV and established a joint venture in 1999 with Philips – LG.Philips LCD – which now goes by the name LG Display. In 1999, LG Semiconductor merged with Hynix.^[8]

2000s–present

LG Electronics had operated LGE.com in 2000.^[9]

In order to create a holding company, the former LG Electronics was split off in 2002, with the "new" LG Electronics being spun off and the "old" LG Electronics changing its name to LG EI. It was then merged with and into LG CI in 2003 (the legal successor of the former LG Chem), so the company that started as GoldStar does not exist.

In 2004, LG.Philips LCD completed an initial public offering and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Korea Exchange; it was later renamed LG Display^[10]. By 2005, LG was a Top 100 global brand and recorded a brand growth of 14% in 2006.^[11] As of 2009, its display manufacturing affiliate, LG Display, was the world's largest LCD panel manufacturer.^[12] LG Electronics has since continued to develop various electronic products, such as releasing the world's first 84-inch ultra-HD TV for retail sale.^[13]

In 2010, LG Electronics entered the smartphone industry. In the same year, Ericsson acquired Nortel's controlling stake in LG-Nortel, a joint venture with LG Electronics, and the company was later renamed LG-Ericsson.^[14] In 2011, LG released the LG Optimus 2X, which Guinness World Records recognized as the first mobile phone to use a dual-core processor^[15].

On 5 December 2012, the antitrust regulators of the European Union fined LG Electronics and five other major companies (Samsung, Thomson since 2022 known as Vantiva, Matsushita which today is Panasonic Corp, Philips and Toshiba) for fixing prices of TV cathode-ray tubes in two cartels lasting nearly a decade.^[16]

LG Electronics plays a large role in the global consumer electronics industry; it was the second-largest LCD TV manufacturer worldwide as of 2013.^[17]In 2013, LG established its Vehicle component business, marking a formal expansion into automotive electronics.^[18]

On 11 June 2015, LG Electronics found itself in the midst of a human rights controversy when The Guardian published an article by Rosa Moreno, a former employee of an LG television assembly factory. Moreno was offered $3800 in compensation after losing both hands in an industrial accident while working for a subcontrator making parts for LG-branded flatscreen televisions.^[19]

At the end of 2016, LG Electronics merged its German branch (situated in Ratingen) and European headquarter (situated in London) together in Eschborn, a suburb of Frankfurt am Main.^[20]

In March 2017, LG Electronics was sued for its handling of hardware failures with recent smartphones such as the LG G4.^[21]

Koo Bon-joon, who was the CEO and the current vice chairman of LG Electronics,^[22] was replaced by his nephew Koo Kwang-mo in July 2018 as CEO and vice chairman.^[23] The move came after the succession of Koo Kwang-mo as the chairman of the parent company LG Corporation who succeeded his adoptive father and uncle Koo Bon-moo after Bon-moo died of a brain tumor on 20 May 2018.^[24]

LG announced in November 2018 that Hwang Jeong-hwan, who took the job as president of LG Mobile Communications in October 2017, will be replaced by Brian Kwon, who is head of LG's hugely profitable home entertainment business, from the 1st of December 2018.^[25] In 2018, LG Electronics acquired a 70 percent stake in Austrian automotive lighting company ZKW Group, while LG Corp. acquired the remaining 30 percent.^[26] Also in 2018, LG decided to stop smartphone production in South Korea to move production to Vietnam, in order to stay competitive.^[27] LG said Vietnam provides an "abundant labor force" and that 750 workers at its South Korean handset factory would be relocated to its home appliance plant.

In 2020, LG Electronics ranked fourth among global applicants under the Patent Cooperation Treaty system, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization.^[28]In the same year, LG began selling its rollable OLED television in South Korea.^[29]

On 5 April 2021, LG announced its withdrawal from the phone manufacturing industry after continuous loss in the market. In 2020, LG faced a loss of 5 trillion won (US$4.4 billion).^{[30][31][32][33]}In July 2021, LG Electronics formed LG Magna e-Powertrain, a joint venture with Magna International focused on electric vehicle powertrain components, including motors, inverters and onboard chargers.^[34]

In June 2021, the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed published a video alleging an attempt by a representative of LG to manipulate the review of one of LG's gaming monitors.^[35] The representative, in an email shown in the video, attempts to influence the editorial outcome of the review by indicating testing methods and aspects of the display to be followed by the channel. This came a few months after a similar incident between the creators and Nvidia in which Nvidia warned them that if they continue emphasizing on rasterization rather than ray tracing in Nvidia's graphics cards, they would no longer receive review samples. Hardware Unboxed later stated that LG Electronics had contacted the channel and would change how it handled monitor reviews.^[36]

As of 1 December 2021, the Chief Strategy Officer William Cho will take over for Bong-seok Kwon as the CEO of LG Electronics.^[37]

In June 2022, LG acquired AppleMango, a South Korean EV charger manufacturer with a 60% purchase of the company's stocks^[38][39] The acquisition marked LG's entry into the electric vehicle charging business.^[40]

In that same month, the American publication Consumer Reports rated LG home appliances as the most reliable in the U.S. consumer market.^[41]

In 2022^[42] and 2023, two LG Electronics home appliance manufacturing facilities, LG Smart Park in Changwon, South Korea, and its plant in Tennessee, United States, were selected by the World Economic Forum as Lighthouse Factories.^[43]

In April 2024, a security firm discovered security bugs in tens of thousands of LG smart TV models that could "let hackers hijack them". The vulnerability particularly affects smart TVs running LG's WebOS operating system from version 4 to version 7.^[44] The vulnerabilities had been reported to LG in November 2023, and LG released patches for the affected models on 22 March 2024, before the research was publicly disclosed.^[45]

In December 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against LG and four other smart TV manufacturers, alleging that the companies were illegally "spying on Texans by secretly recording what consumers watch in their own homes" using automated content recognition (ACR) technology.^[46]

In January 2026, LG Electronics announced it would unveil an AI-powered home robot called LG CLOiD at CES 2026. The robot supports LG's "Zero Labor Home" vision and is designed to autonomously perform household tasks, coordinate connected appliances and interact naturally with residents.^[47]

Logo evolution

• 
  1958-1961
• 
  1961-1962
• 
  1962-1963
• 
  1963-1964
• 
  1964-1965
• 
  1965
• 
  1965-1975
• 
  1995-2014
• 
  2008-2014
• 
  2014-present
• 
  2014-present (3D)

COVID-19 response

On 25 December 2021, LG Electronics launched a video campaign showing some of the initiatives the company has taken in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video shows how the company has handled the pandemic from the beginning by encouraging good hygiene practices to include social distancing, hand-washing, mask wearing, and using hand sanitizers.^{[citation needed]}

In a strategy to cope with demand for contactless shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic, LG Electronics opened a number of unmanned stores that allowed for customers to authenticate themselves at the main entrance, check product information, and purchase products using a mobile phone or QR code. The company operates nine unmanned stores and this will increase to 30 by the end of June 2022. These locations are only available in South Korea.^[48]

United States headquarters

In 2013, LG Electronics USA proposed building a new headquarters in the borough of Englewood Cliffs in Bergen County, New Jersey, including a 143 ft (44 m) tall building that would stand taller than the tree line of the Hudson Palisades, a US National Natural Landmark.^[49][50][51] The company proposed to build an environmentally friendly facility in Englewood Cliffs, incidental to Bergen County's per-capita leading Korean American population, having received an initially favorable legal decision concerning building height issues.^[52] The plan, while approved by the local government, met with resistance from the segments of the general public as well as government officials in New Jersey and adjacent New York.^{[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60]} The initial court decision upholding the local government approval was overturned by a New Jersey appellate court in 2015 and LG subsequently submitted a revised, scaled-down, 64-foot building for approval by the borough of Englewood Cliffs in 2016.^[61] LG broke ground on the new US$300 million Englewood Cliffs headquarters on 7 February 2017, to be completed in late 2019.^[62]

Home appliances

LG manufactures home appliances including refrigerators, Dishwasher, Water purifier, washing machines, tumble dryers, garment steamers, vacuum cleaners, air conditioners and microwave ovens. In June 2014, LG Electronics announced the launch of its smart appliances with HomeChat messaging service in South Korea. HomeChat employs LINE, the mobile messenger app from Korean company 'Naver', to let homeowners communicate, control, monitor and share content with LG's smart appliances.^[72] Users can send simple messages, such as "start washing cycle," in order to control their washing machines.^[72]

In December 2021, LG Electronics announced they were testing an ecologically friendly washing machine that uses liquid carbon dioxide as a cleaner. The company will be conducting a two-year test prove the safety with a goal of having commercial CO₂ washers in shopping mall laundries. This new process creates no wastewater and will exhaust gas.^[73]

Vacuum cleaner

LG Electronics' vacuum cleaner business began in 1976, when its predecessor GoldStar introduced corded canister vacuum cleaners to the South Korean market.^[89]

In 2003, LG introduced the RoboKing, described as Korea's first robotic vacuum cleaner.^[90] LG later expanded its cordless vacuum cleaner lineup through its CordZero series.^[91]

Televisions

LG has been a television manufacturer since the early development of South Korea's consumer electronics industry. Under its former brand GoldStar, the company produced South Korea's first domestically manufactured black-and-white television in 1966. The company later expanded into color television, large-screen displays, and digital broadcasting technologies.^[114]

In 2004, LG introduced a 55-inch Full HD LCD television, which at the time was among the largest television displays available. In the same year, the company also unveiled a 71-inch Full HD plasma display television.^[114] LG Electronics introduced its first Internet TV in 2007, originally branded as "Net Cast Entertainment Access" devices. The LG SL9000 was one of several new Borderless HDTV's advertised for release at IFA Berlin in 2009.^[115] They later renamed the 2011 Internet televisions to "LG Smart TV" when more interactive television features were added, that enable the audience to receive information from the Internet while watching conventional TV programming along with the world's first 84-inch Ultra HD TV^[114][116]

In November 2013, a blogger discovered that some of LG's smart TVs silently collect filenames from attached USB storage devices and program viewing data, and transmit the information to LG's servers and LG-affiliated servers.^[117][118] Shortly after this blog entry went live, LG disabled playback on its site of the video, explaining how its viewer analytics work, and closed the Brightcove account the video was hosted on.

In 2016, exclusively to India, Indian arm of South Korea's LG Electronics Inc started selling a TV that would repel mosquitoes.^[119] It uses ultrasonic waves that are silent to humans but cause mosquitoes to fly away.^[119] It was released on 16 June 2016. The technology was also used in air conditioners and washing machines.^[119] The TV is aimed for lower-income consumers living in conditions that would make them susceptible to mosquitoes.^[119]

In 2018, it was reported that LG was planning to sell big-screen televisions that could be rolled up and retract automatically with the push of a button come 2019.^[120]

Audio

Since December 2017, LG has co-developed its soundbars with British high-end audio manufacturer Meridian Audio, whose digital signal processing technologies are integrated into the company's premium models.^[139] In 2025, LG Electronics and musician will.i.am produced the xboom line of portable Bluetooth speakers and wireless earbuds.^[140] LG also produces a soundbar line supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X formats; the LG Sound Suite H7^[141]

Computing

Heating & Cooling

LG Electronics has developed heating and cooling systems since the late 20th century.^{[citation needed]} Its portfolio includes air conditioners, heat pumps, chillers, and building energy management systems for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

Mobile devices

In April 2021, LG officially confirmed that it will shut down its mobile division.^[152][153] Earlier, there had been rumours that LG considered selling its mobile division with Vingroup and Volkswagen named as potential buyers.^[154][155]

Other than mobile phones, LG Electronics have also made tablet computers like the LG G series complementing the mobile phones.^[156] LG also makes laptop computers in the LG Gram line, and previously under the Xnote line (see List of LG laptops).

Mobile phones

See also: List of LG mobile phones

LG Electronics used to manufacture mobile phones from 1995 to 2021,^[157] selling to the domestic market only (as Cyon) until 2000 where it was in the shadow of Samsung Anycall.^[157] LG released its first GSM network phones during 2001^[158] although had also marketed CDMA phones before then in the U.S.^[159] LG made its breakthrough during the mid and late 2000s: it launched its highly popular LG Chocolate in worldwide in 2006 which popularised touch-sensitivity. The following year it released the world's first capacitive touchscreen phone LG Prada, and Shine, cementing its focus on design:^[157] its phones during this era have led to LG being called alongside Apple as one of the pioneers of the rise of touchscreens.^[160] By 2008 LG had entered the top 3 worldwide leaders in mobile phones.^[161]

There was further success with the Cookie which helped to bring touchscreens to the budget market, and with the Lollipop flip phone that became very popular in South Korea.^[157] However the company had trouble with competing in smartphones. In 2010, LG released the Optimus smartphone, which would span into a series. The following year saw the release of the LG Optimus 3D, the world's first mobile phone with glasses-free 3D display,^[162] and LG Optimus 2X, the first with a dual-core processor.^[163] In 2012 LG worked with Google to build the Nexus 4 smartphone.^[164]

Other than the G3, LG officially unveiled the curved smartphone, LG G Flex, on 27 October 2013.^[165][166] At Consumer Electronics Show in January 2014, LG announced a US release for the G2 across several major carriers.^[167] In 2015, LG released LG G4 globally in late May through early June.^[168] On 7 September 2016, LG unveiled the V20,^[169] and the V30 was announced on 31 August 2017. LG G6 was officially announced during MWC 2017 on 26 February 2017.^[170] The G7 ThinQ model was announced at a 2 May 2018 media briefing.^[171] In 2020, the LG Wing was introduced with two displays and a swivel design.^[163]

In April 2021, after months of speculation, LG confirmed that the smartphone division will be officially shut down in July 2021.^[172] The decision to shut down LG Mobile came about from poor sales caused by stiff competition from rival Samsung and Chinese brands such as Oppo and Xiaomi. LG became the first major smartphone brand to completely withdraw from the market.^[173]

Smart watches

LG and Google announced the Android Wear-based smartwatch, the LG G Watch, that was in June 2014.^[174] In August 2014, the LG G Watch R that has a circular face (similar to the Moto 360) was released.^[175] The LG Watch Urbane that LG's third Android Wear-based smart watch has released in April 2015. This was the first device to support newer smartwatch features such as Wi-Fi, and new parts of Android Wear's software interface, like the ability to draw emoji to friends.^[176]

Rolly keyboard

In 2015, LG announced a Bluetooth keyboard that folds up along the four rows of keys for portability. The Rolly keyboard is made of solid plastic. Two tiny plastic arms fold out from the end of the keyboard to support a tablet or smartphone and it can toggle between two different Bluetooth-connected devices at a time. Battery life is an expected three months on a single AAA battery.^[177]

Automotive

LG Electronics manufactures vehicle audio for many manufacturers including Opel, Renault, Vauxhall and Volkswagen. LG Electronics also manufacturers teardrop trailers^{[178][179][180]} and produces displays for many vehicle manufacturers.^[181]

Sponsorships

LG Sports Limited, a subsidiary of LG Corporation, owns the Korean Baseball Organisation (KBO) LG Twins (LG 트윈스). Through an acquisition in 1990, the MBC Blue Dragons (who was one of the six original founding members of the KBO in 1982) became the LG Twins.^[186] The team has won two Korean Series (1990 and 1994). LG attracts a large attendance of fans and to much of their enjoyment, took third place in the league.^[187]

In August 2013, LG Electronics announced that it would sponsor German Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen for the next three years with an option to extend for one more year. LG sponsors the International Cricket Council, the world governing body for cricket and also sponsors the ICC Awards.^[188]

From 2009 to 2013, LG Electronics sponsored Formula One as a Global Partner and Technology Partner.^[189] LG was also an official supplier to Virgin Racing and Lotus Racing team, plus engine manufacturer Cosworth from 2010 to 2012.^[190] LG also sponsors London Fashion Week and the LG Arena in Birmingham.^[191]

During the period 2001–2003, LG sponsored the snooker Grand Prix. During these years the tournament was known as the LG Cup. In 2008, LG became sponsors of the Extreme Sport 'FSO4 Freeze' festival.^[192]

The LG Electronics company in Australia dissolved its sponsorship with cricketer David Warner on 27 March 2018 and dropped him as the brand ambassador of the company over the ball tampering scandal during the third Test of their 2017–18 tempestuous series against South Africa.^[193][194] Warner had an agreement with the company in 2014 and his contract had been planned for renewal.^[195][196]