[Executive Corner] Partnering in Progress: 35 Years of Growth With Indonesia
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By News Reporter
This year marks a special milestone for LG Electronics: the 50th anniversary of our Gasan R&D Campus, the birthplace of many innovations that have reshaped how people live.
To celebrate the occasion, we held a commemorative event at the Campus located in Gasan-dong, southwestern Seoul, under the banner “50 Years of Technology and Passion, a Promise for Tomorrow.” The event brought together key figures from the Campus’s past and present – including research center heads and former division leaders – to reflect on a shared journey and reaffirm our commitment to advancing the global home appliance industry.
Founded in December 1975 as the Goldstar Central Research Lab, and at that time located within the company’s headquarters, the Gasan R&D Campus was the first privately established research facility in Korea. At a time when most companies maintain small R&D teams inside their factories, LG made a bold and forward-thinking decision to establish a centralized campus in the Seoul metropolitan area. Decades later, this decision appears prescient, with the Gasan R&D Campus having time and again proven itself invaluable to our company’s mission – to make life better for customers around the globe.
Beginning with just 10 researchers in a small, crowded workspace, the team quickly made history by developing one of Korea’s first domestically produced electronic POS cash registers in 1977. Energized by this early success, the lab continued to set new milestones for the nation’s electronics industry. It pioneered Korea’s first electronic Korean-English bilingual typewriter and independently developed Custom ICs, establishing in-house capabilities for semiconductor design and manufacturing. Building on these achievements, the lab rapidly expanded its scope from office and banking equipment to everyday home appliances – transforming fans, refrigerators and washing machines into electronically controlled, microprocessor-equipped devices. As projects multiplied and talent grew, the lab relocated to the Guro Industrial Complex, laying the foundation for what would ultimately become a powerhouse of home appliance innovation.
Today, the Campus spans 20 floors above ground and five basement levels, home to specialized laboratories like the Clothing Science Lab and Air‑Science Lab. It has powered the development of category‑leading and life‑improving innovations to market.
Among these are the LG Styler clothing care system; the world’s first Direct Drive (DD) motors for washing machines; linear compressors for refrigerators; and ThinQ UP appliances, which constantly evolve to meet users’ changing needs.
The Campus also drives breakthroughs in advanced materials. Observing that enamel glass powder is commonly used on interior metal surfaces of electric ranges in major global markets, our researchers set out to create an easier to clean alternative. This led to the development of the LG EasyClean oven in 2013, enabling cleaning with only water.
More recently since 2023, we have expanded our advanced materials business under the LG PuroTecTM brand – another milestone supported by the world-class capabilities at Gasan.
As we reflect on 50 years of progress, the Gasan R&D Campus remains our strategic core – a place where technology meets empathy, where innovation is fueled by purpose and where our commitment endures:
To deliver a Better Life for All.
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By News Reporter
At LG Electronics, Better Life for All is more than a corporate vision or tagline – it’s a guiding principle that shapes everything we create. Central to our inclusive vision is a belief in universal design: the philosophy of crafting products and experiences to deliver convenience and comfort for everyone, regardless of age, gender or physical ability.
Committed to this philosophy, LG aims to go beyond functional innovation to provide unique lifestyle solutions that truly put people first. A deep understanding of our customers and the diverse environments in which they live is essential to this endeavor, which is why listening to the voice of the customer is such an integral part of our design process.
We have established systems to directly integrate real user feedback, especially from those with limited mobility – and seniors and children – into the product development stage. This includes operating an advisory group of people with disabilities and conducting in-depth usability testing. Both of these elements have proven instrumental in helping us to identify and minimize even the smallest points of user discomfort.
Designing with Empathy, Delivering with Purpose
Design at LG has always been about more than aesthetics. It’s about innovating with empathy to ensure usability, ease and enjoyment for all. For us, universal design is not just an outcome, but a mindset shared by all our teams – one that infuses human-centeredness into every decision, no matter how minor or inconsequential it may seem to someone looking in from the outside. From the first concept sketch to the final product experience, we view every touchpoint as an opportunity to make someone’s daily life simpler, safer and more enjoyable.
This approach requires us to design with people rather than for them. It challenges our teams to think beyond convention, to question what “easy to use” truly means and to continuously refine our technology to better meet and adapt to real human needs. When empathy is woven into the design process itself, innovation follows naturally. That is how we translate inclusivity from principle to practice.
Turning Philosophy into Practice: The Comfort Kit
Putting this philosophy into action, we launched the Comfort Kit – a series of affixable assistive kits designed to allow anyone to use our products easily, regardless of their gender, age or physical condition.
Some examples:
Easy Handle: Enables users with limited hand mobility to open washers and dryers with minimal effort.
Easy Ball: Helps those with reduced finger dexterity to manipulate control dials with ease.
Easy Hanger: Allows people using wheelchairs, or those who are shorter than average, to interact comfortably with the LG Styler.
Rotating Shelf: Improves refrigerator usability by making it easier to access hard-to-reach items. We have presented inclusive design solutions that improve the usability of existing products, becoming the first in the home appliance industry to introduce 14 accessibility-enhancing kits. These Comfort Kit series, designed to remove the “one-size-fits-some” barrier that many customers have long faced, are also sustainably manufactured – reflecting our commitment to protecting the planet.
Recognition Beyond Design
Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Globally, we are recognized as a model company for inclusive design.
We’ve shared our accessibility technologies and design philosophy at forums such as the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference, where the Comfort Kit series was welcomed by both consumers and organizations advocating for underrepresented communities.
We also showcased this work at important global exhibitions such as IFA and CES. Our dedication to good design earned us the “Design Awards Grand Slam” – winning top honors at all three major global design awards, Red Dot, iF, and IDEA.
These accolades matter to us, but more importantly, they reflect our deep conviction that inclusive design is not just a feature – it’s a responsibility.
Designing for a Better Tomorrow
For us at LG, realizing the Better Life for All vision means creating unique products and experiences that feel right for everyone, and can be enjoyed by anyone. We will continue to advance accessibility so that all customers can take advantage of everything that our products and services have to offer. No caveats or compromises, only convenience and comfort.
By Sooyeon Kim, head of HS & ES Design Lab at LG Electronics
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By News Reporter
When fans walk into a stadium, they expect more than just a game or a show – they expect to feel part of something bigger. In Spain, this new era of immersive sports and entertainment has two shining examples: the Riyahd Air Metropolitano in Madrid and the Roig Arena in Valencia. At both venues, we at LG are helping write a new chapter in the digital transformation of sports, leading a technological revolution that redefines how every moment is experienced.
What sets us apart is not only our leadership as the No. 1 provider of professional LED technology in Spain,* but also our ability to turn every project into a unique digital ecosystem. We don’t just install screens – we create living platforms where image, software and infrastructure work together to make every corner of a venue come alive.
Riyahd Air Metropolitano: An Icon in Transformation
In Madrid, our collaboration with Atlético de Madrid has transformed the Riyahd Air Metropolitano into a stadium that breathes innovation. The exterior and interior now form a dynamic canvas of light and color, amplifying the atmosphere of every moment.
At the top, our state-of-the-art Mesh LED envelops the stadium in a 360-degree visual spectacle, amplifying the excitement of every goal and every play and making the roar of the fans even more powerful and unforgettable.
Roig Arena: A New Global Benchmark
In Valencia, the Roig Arena was envisioned as one of the most advanced arenas in the world. At the heart stands our technological gem: the high-resolution video scoreboard. This giant screen, bearing the LG seal of innovation, offers precise sharpness and color uniformity that allow every replay, every stat and every detail of the game to be seen with astonishing clarity throughout the stands. But it does much more than display scores – it syncs with lighting, sound and dynamic content to turn every key moment into a cinematic experience.
Around it, the perimeter LED ribbon and the iconic outdoor screen, The Eye, complete a digital ecosystem that extends the excitement beyond the venue, placing Valencia at the forefront of Europe as a venue for top-level competitions and events.
Digitalization as a Driver of Change
In both Madrid and Valencia, we’re showing that digitalizing stadiums isn’t just about impressive visuals – it’s about smarter management, new ways to communicate and deeper connections with audiences. These venues are flexible platforms that can adapt to matches, concerts, cultural shows or corporate events. And for sponsors, they open new doors to engage with the public in more personal, real-time ways.
Shaping the Future Through Leadership
In recent years, we’ve been proud to contribute to nearly thirty sport venues in Spain, from stadiums and arenas to the Rafa Nadal Academy and local gyms. With a 45 percent share of the professional LED market in Spain in the first quarter of 2025,* and the trust of eight out of ten major Spanish stadiums, we are not just equipping venues – we are redefining the live event experience.
However, this leadership isn’t built on technology alone. It comes from people – the talent, passion and dedication of nearly 240 professionals at LG Spain. From engineering to sales, logistics to marketing, every department has played a vital role in making these projects a reality.
Each installation is a milestone that brings Spain a little closer to the global forefront of sports and entertainment technology. Our expertise also extends beyond Spain, to iconic venues like Wembley Stadium in London, Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt and Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium.
At LG, we believe life is richer when emotions are lived intensely. That’s why our mission is to make every fan, in every seat, feel that Life’s Good – and why we believe the future of sports and entertainment venues is already here.
By Jaime de Jaraíz, president of LG Electronics Iberia
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*Source: OMDIA. Data on the professional LED display market in Spain, published up to June 2025, based on installed volume (in square meters) during 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. LG Electronics has not participated in the preparation of this study. For more information, visit: link hidden, please login to view
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By News Reporter
As president of the LG Vehicle Solution (VS) Company, IAA Mobility 2025 gave me the opportunity to present our vision to a global audience. I had the privilege of sharing the stage with Chris Jo, senior vice president and head of LG’s webOS Platform Business Center, along with our partners from Xbox and Zoom. Together, we are defining what it takes to transform the car into a true living space on wheels.
LG Automotive Content Platform: Driving the Future of In-Cabin Connectivity
As Chris Jo highlighted, we have extended webOS – trusted across 240 million devices worldwide – into vehicles with our webOS-based Automotive Content Platform (ACP). This enables automakers to deliver rich multimedia experiences such as OTT streaming, cloud gaming and video conferencing on a global scale. With full UI/UX customization and new revenue opportunities, the webOS platform is moving beyond the living room and shaping the future of the mobility ecosystem.
Xbox: Cloud Gaming Hits the Road
For Xbox, this partnership is an exciting moment, finding a new way to bring the joy of gaming to more people. Chris Lee, Vice President of Marketing at Xbox, noted the challenge of bringing the Xbox experience from TVs into cars, particularly around performance and seamless integration.
By leveraging our ACP, Xbox delivers a quality in-car gaming experience via its popular cloud gaming service, while LG manages the essential integration and certification work. This means passengers can access the same trusted Xbox Cloud Gaming service wherever they travel – during a charging stop or long road trip. Chris described it as making the journey “not only more entertaining but supporting the flexibility players expect from Xbox,” and I believe this underscores the true value of collaboration.
Zoom: Meetings on Wheels
Brendan Ittelson, Chief Ecosystem Officer at Zoom, spoke about creating a consistent collaboration experience across different vehicles – a vision that naturally aligns with ours. By integrating directly with our webOS-based ACP, Zoom can deliver updates and improvements as soon as they’re ready without waiting on OEM software cycles.
Drivers can join meetings safely in voice-only mode, and passengers can attend camera-enabled video calls, while Zoom AI Companion automatically captures summaries and action items in the background. As Brendan explained, “The in-cabin experience is quickly shifting from passive to purposeful,” becoming a place where people can stay connected and productive without sacrificing safety.
Affectionate Intelligence for the Road Ahead
Looking at the bigger picture, the future of in-vehicle innovation will be shaped by AI – what we call “Affectionate Intelligence” – that not only understands users but also seamlessly integrates functions for safety, entertainment, communication and comfort. To transform vehicles into true extensions of living spaces, LG must take on the role of orchestrator, working closely with our content partners and automakers to create a genuinely human-centered mobility ecosystem.
My key takeaway from the panel was that each of us – LG, Xbox and Zoom – brings distinct strengths to the table. Xbox is taking a bold step into automotive gaming, Zoom is working to redefine productivity on the move and LG is driving toward an AI-powered mobility ecosystem. Guided by these shared goals, the path forward is clear.
With webOS at the core and trusted partners by our side, we are accelerating platform-driven growth in mobility. The future of the car won’t just be about transportation – it will be about creating experiences that connect, entertain and empower us wherever the road leads.
By Eun Seok-hyun, president of the LG Vehicle Solution (VS) Company
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By News Reporter
Company Accelerates Growth Strategy, Expanding Footprint in the Global South
SEOUL, Sep. 8, 2025 — LG Electronics (LG) CEO William Cho is advancing the company’s Global South growth strategy through a strategic partnership to provide cooling solutions for an AI data center under development in Oxagon, the industrial hub of Saudi Arabia’s NEOM City project.
On September 2 in Riyadh, Cho met with Abdulelah Abunayyan, Chairman of SHAKER Group, the manufacturer and sole distributor of LG Air Conditioners, following the 30th anniversary of the strategic partnership; and Rajit Nanda, CEO of DATAVOLT, a global data infrastructure provider. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which LG will supply advanced thermal management solutions for next-generation data centers being developed by DATAVOLT.
DATAVOLT, headquartered in Saudi Arabia with offices in the USA, Uzbekistan, India and the UAE and with a presence in South Korea and South Africa, develops hyperscale data centers that incorporate renewable energy and alternative fuels. Its flagship project in Oxagon is planned as one of the largest AI data centers in the region. DATAVOLT is also investing in hyperscale data centers in Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, and other parts of Asia.
“We are building a new generation of net-zero, AI-ready data centers designed for performance, scale and sustainability,” said Rajit Nanda, CEO of DATAVOLT. “Partnering with LG allows us to integrate world-class cooling technologies that are critical to enabling the digital transformation of governments and enterprises across the Kingdom of Saudi and beyond.”
“Our 30-year partnership with LG has been instrumental in shaping the HVAC market in Saudi Arabia, and today’s collaboration marks another step forward in that journey,” said Mohammed Ibrahim Abunayyan, CEO of SHAKER Group. “By joining forces with LG and DATAVOLT, we are driving innovation in advanced, energy efficient cooling solutions and supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global technology hub.”
By integrating large-scale chillers with coolant distribution units, LG is positioning AI data center thermal management as a new growth engine within its heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) business. In addition to cooling, LG is developing capabilities to propose integrated solutions such as heat recovery and DC power systems, which can further contribute to energy efficiency in data centers.
The collaboration is also meaningful from the perspective of LG’s “One LG Solution” strategy, which seeks to leverage capabilities across LG Group affiliates. Beyond thermal management, opportunities may extend to battery solutions from LG Energy Solution and data center design, build and operation solutions from LG CNS, drawing on LG Group’s global network.
During his visit, Cho also assessed the market environment and business performance of LG operations in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, the Levant and Maghreb, highlighting the importance of tailoring strategies to local market dynamics.
“The Middle East and Africa hold tremendous potential,” said CEO Cho. “The Middle East offers abundant B2G and B2B opportunities driven by government-led industrial restructuring and large-scale development projects. By leveraging our strong brand and differentiated offerings in areas such as AI home and smart solutions, we need to focus on capturing new growth across the region.”
Recently, Pilwon Jung, LG’s regional representative for the Middle East and Africa, signed an MOU with Mohammad Al Habib Real Estate Co., a major Saudi developer actively involved in government-backed projects, including premium housing developments.
This marks CEO Cho’s third visit to the Global South this year, following trips to India in January and to Vietnam and Indonesia in May. The Global South is a cornerstone of LG’s growth strategy, with the company positioning the region as a key engine for long-term expansion amid shifting global economic dynamics.
The Middle East and Africa together account for about a quarter of the world’s population and are recognized as regions of strong growth potential. In particular, the Middle East has accelerated diversification beyond oil under government-led initiatives. According to Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency’s 2025 Export Outlook and Regional Market Conditions report, non-oil GDP growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is projected to reach 4 percent this year – the highest in three years.
LG has a long history in the Middle East and Africa, first entering the region through branches in Kuwait (1979) and Côte d’Ivoire (1990). Over the past five years, LG’s sales in the region have grown by more than 30 percent.
In HVAC, LG continues to introduce solutions designed for the region’s climate in collaboration with SHAKER Group. These include outdoor units with heat exchangers engineered to withstand sandstorms and high temperatures, produced at the local LG-SHAKER manufacturing facility. LG is also strengthening its service infrastructure with dedicated maintenance subsidiaries across the region.
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