History

The trajectory of LG Electronics, its growth and diversification, has always been grounded in the company ethos of making our customers' lives ever better and easier-happier, even-through increased functionality and fun.

Since its founding in 1958, LG Electronics has led the way to an ever-more advanced digital era. Along the way, our constantly evolving technological expertise has lent itself to many new products and applied technologies. Moving forward into the 21st century, LG continues to on its path to becoming the finest global electronics company, bar none.

LG Electronics 50-year History

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1958 Founded as GoldStar 1959 Produce Korea's first consumer radios 1998 Introduce the 60-inch plasma TV 1999 Forge joint venture with Philips 2003 Enter UK GSM handset market 2005 Develop 3G UMTS DMB handset 2007 Launch HD disc-player and drive

1958

GoldStar (today’s LG Electronics) established

1959

Korea’s first radio produced

1965

Korea’s first refrigerator produced

1966

Korea’s first black & white TV produced

1968

Korea’s first air conditioner produced

1969

Korea’s first washing machine produced

1974

GoldStar Communications went public

1977

Color TV produced

1978

Exports surpassed US$100 million, a first for Korea’s electronics industry

1980

First EU sales subsidiary in Germany (LGEWG) established

1982

Color TV plant established in the US in Huntsville, Alabama

1984

Sales surpassed 1 trillion Won

1986

European-standard VCR plant established in Germany

1989

Sales subsidiary and a joint production subsidiary established in Thailand

1990

Ireland-based design technology center established

1993

With the establishment of Huizhou subsidiary in China(LGEHZ), marketing in China took full swing

1995

Company name changed to LG Electronics and US-based Zenith acquired

1997

40-inch Plasma TV and the world’s first IC set for DTVs developed India production subsidiary (LGEIL) established

1998

World’s first 60-inch Plasma TV developed

1999

LG.Philips LCD established

2000

LG Information & Communications merged The world’s first Internet-enabled refrigerator launched Global sales of refrigerators reached the number one position

2001

Asynchronous IMT-2000 equipment commercialized The world’s first Internetenabled washing machine, air conditioner, and microwave oven launched LG.Philips Displays, a joint venture with Philips established

2002

Under the LG Holding Company system, the Company spun off to LG Electronics (LGE)& LG Electronics Investment (LGEI) The first home network system commercialized in the global market

2003

World’s first synchronous-asynchronous IMT-2000 mobile phone developed The world’s first 76-inch Plasma TV developed CDMA mobile handsets took the largest share in the US and world CDMA market Launched the world’s first Super Multi DVD Rewriter

2004

EVSB, the next-generation DTV transmission technology, chosen to be the US/Canada DTV transmission standard by the US ATSC All-in-one LG 55-inch LCD TV, the world’s first and largest among LCD TVs, commercialized The world’s largest and first 71-inch Plasma TV commercialized The world’s first terrestrial DMB phone developed Developed Wireless Speaker Home Cinema System

2005

The world’s first DMB notebook commercialized The world’s slimmest TV commercialized The world’s largest 102-inch Plasma TV developed LG and Nortel Networks agreed to establish a joint venture for telecommunication network equipment Satellite-based DMB phone commercialized The largest share seized in the global CDMA market

2006

Launched the LG Shine, the second handset in the Black Label Series Globally launched the steam washing machine and interactive TV refrigerator Developed the world's first 100-inch LCD TV Launched the world's largest Full HD 102-inch Plasma TV (1080p) Developed the world's first dual-format high-definition Disc Player& Drive

2007

Launches the industry's first dual-format, high-definition disc player and drive Launches 120Hz Full HD LCD TV Demonstrated the world-first MIMO 4G-Enabled technologies with 3G LTE Won contract for GSMA's 3G campaign

2008

Introduces new global brand identity: "Stylish design and smart technology, in products that fit our consumer's lives."