A Summary of the History of LG
The story begins in post-war South Korea, when daily life still depended on scarce goods and hard choices.
Out of that setting, a young industrial group started building everyday products at home, then moved into electronics, then into global technology.
Over decades, it changed names, changed structure, and kept chasing the same basic idea: make modern life feel closer, simpler, and more possible.
The Founder and the First Spark
In the official brand history, the founding figure is In-hwoi Koo.
The early chapters do not read like a gadget story at all.
They read like a country trying to stand on its own feet, one essential product at a time.
- In-hwoi Koo is named as the founder in the brand history.
- The same history points to early consumer products as the starting point, before the electronics era took over.
The Problem They Wanted To Solve
The first challenge was practical and immediate.
People needed locally made daily goods, not luxury items.
That need pushed the early team to build products at scale, then build the factories and know-how to keep doing it.
- Create dependable everyday goods for local households.
- Build domestic manufacturing capacity that could expand into more complex industries.
How It All Started: Lucky Takes Shape
The origin story begins in 1947 with Lucky Chemical Co., Ltd.
The brand history frames this as the root of the modern group.
From there, the early identity formed around consumer essentials and a steady push toward local production.
- 1947: Lucky Chemical Co., Ltd. is established.
- The brand history highlights “Lucky Cream” and describes it as Korea’s first makeup cream.
GoldStar Arrives and the Electronics Chapter Opens
In 1958, GoldStar is established as an electronics company.
This becomes the doorway into radios, televisions, and the home appliances that later defined the firm’s global image.
In the official story, this is the moment the future starts to look electric.
- 1958: GoldStar is founded, later tied to what becomes the electronics flagship.
The Early “Firsts” Era
The 1960s arrive with a clear message in the corporate history: make the basics, and make them locally.
Several early milestones are framed as national firsts.
These products were not just machines. They were signals that a domestic industry was taking form.
- 1959: The company’s first radio
- 1965: The company’s first refrigerator
- 1966: The company’s first TV
- 1969: The company’s first washing machine
A Turning Point in Leadership
In 1969, the corporate history records the death of Chairman In-hwoi Koo.
That moment matters because the organization was still young.
The next chapter would depend on whether the mission could outlive the founder.
- 1969: Chairman In-hwoi Koo dies (as recorded in the corporate history).
The 1970s: Consolidation, Growth, and a Name Change
The 1970s read like a tightening of focus.
The group grows, formalizes, and pushes outward.
It also reshapes its identity, including a key name change tied to the “Lucky” brand line.
- 1970: Cha-kyung Koo becomes chairman (as recorded in the group history).
- 1974: Lak Hui Chemical changes its name to Lucky Co., Ltd.
- 1978: The electronics timeline highlights $100 million in exports.
Going Global: The First Overseas Production Base
By the early 1980s, the story shifts from “prove it at home” to “build it abroad.”
The electronics timeline marks a first overseas production base in the United States.
This is the kind of step that turns an exporter into a global manufacturer.
- 1982: First overseas production base in the United States (as listed in the electronics timeline).
From Lucky and GoldStar to One Group Identity
In 1983, the group name becomes “Lucky Goldstar.”
It is a merger of two identities into one banner.
It also sets the stage for a later, cleaner global brand name.
- 1983: Group name changes to Lucky Goldstar.
Ideas That Shaped the Culture
Long before the modern buzzwords, the corporate timeline highlights management themes.
In 1990, “Customer-Value Creation” and “People-Oriented Management” are introduced in the group history.
These phrases show up as a kind of internal compass for the decades that follow.
- 1990: Customer-Value Creation and People-Oriented Management are introduced (as recorded in the group history).
1995: A Brand Becomes “LG”
The mid-1990s deliver a defining brand shift.
The group history places the adoption of the “LG” name and identity in 1995.
The electronics flagship also marks a rebrand in that same period, tying the global name to the products people see every day.
- 1995: Adoption of the “LG” name and corporate identity is recorded in the group history.
- 1995: The electronics timeline notes the rebranding of the flagship as LG Electronics.
Zenith: A U.S. Deal That Marked an Era
The group history records an acquisition of Zenith in 1995.
Later, a major U.S. newspaper reports that the firm became the sole owner of Zenith in 1999 after buying remaining shares.
It is a snapshot of how aggressive the global push could be in that era.
- 1995: Acquisition of Zenith is recorded in the group history.
- 1999: A report states the firm became sole owner of Zenith after purchasing remaining shares.
The Display Pivot: A New Kind of Competition
Near the end of the 1990s, the electronics timeline highlights a joint venture to develop LCD panels.
That matters because screens became the face of modern consumer technology.
If you can lead in displays, you can shape everything from televisions to future devices.
- 1999: Joint venture to develop LCD panels is listed in the electronics timeline.
A Structural Reset: The Holding Company Era
By 2003, the corporate history marks a major shift in how the group is organized.
LG Corp launches as a holding company.
This change helps explain how so many businesses can share one identity while moving at different speeds.
- 2003: LG Corp launches as a holding company (as recorded in LG Corp history).
Separation and a Written “Way”
In 2005, the group history records the separation of LG and GS.
The same history places an announcement of “LG Way” in that year.
It reads like a moment when structure and philosophy were both put into words.
- 2005: Separation of LG and GS is recorded in the group history.
- 2005: “LG Way” is recorded as announced in the group history.
Jeong-Do Management and the Ethics Story
The corporate information pages define “Jeong-do management” as a core principle.
It is framed as an ethical management approach.
In a world where global brands can rise fast and fall faster, that kind of declared standard becomes part of the public identity.
- Jeong-do management is defined as a core ethics principle on corporate information pages.
What They Build: The Modern Portfolio
Today, the group is not one business.
It is a set of major affiliates across electronics, displays, materials, batteries, telecom, and IT services.
The holding company’s affiliate descriptions show how wide the footprint has become.
- Electronics: TVs, home appliances, air solutions, monitors, and vehicle solutions are listed in the affiliate descriptions.
- Displays: OLED-centered display products are described for mobile, IT, TV, and automotive uses.
- Components: Parts and solutions for electronics and mobility are described through major component affiliates.
- Chemicals and materials: Petrochemicals and advanced materials appear as core areas.
- Batteries: Automotive, IT, and energy storage categories are described through the battery affiliate.
- Telecom and IT services: Mobile, home, enterprise telecom, and IT services are described through the relevant affiliates.
How the Money Engine Works
This is a group built on multiple engines, not a single flagship product.
Consumer electronics and appliances remain a major public-facing pillar.
Behind the scenes, materials, components, displays, and batteries create another layer of scale.
- The affiliate structure shows revenue coming from electronics, displays, components, chemicals, batteries, telecom, and IT services.
- One published scale marker: the electronics flagship describes combined global revenue of over KRW 88 trillion in 2024 across its four companies.
The Vehicle and Mobility Shift
The 2010s bring a new direction: mobility.
In 2013, the electronics timeline highlights the establishment of a vehicle solutions unit.
This is the moment the story starts to connect the living room to the road.
- 2013: Vehicle component solutions company is established (as listed in the electronics timeline).
2018: A New CEO and a Mobility Deal
In 2018, the group history records Kwang-mo Koo being inaugurated as CEO of LG Corp.
The same year, the history records the acquisition of ZKW, a vehicle lighting systems business.
Together, those entries signal a leadership era aligned with mobility and future systems.
- 2018: Kwang-mo Koo is inaugurated as CEO of LG Corp (as recorded in group history).
- 2018: Acquisition of ZKW is recorded in group history.
2019: Deals That Point to the Next Decade
The group history marks several moves in 2019.
It records the acquisition of CJ HELLO.
It also records an electric vehicle battery joint venture with GM, tying the battery story to a major automaker.
- 2019: Acquisition of CJ HELLO is recorded in group history.
- 2019: EV battery joint venture with GM is recorded in group history.
2020: A Screen That Rolls Up
Some product moments exist to prove a point, not just sell units.
In 2020, the electronics timeline highlights the launch of the world’s first Rollable OLED TV.
It is a spectacle, but it is also a message: the screen is still a frontier.
- 2020: Launch of the world’s first Rollable OLED TV is listed in the electronics timeline.
2021: The Phone Exit That Shocked Longtime Fans
In April 2021, a public announcement states the firm would close its mobile phone business worldwide.
The statement describes the phone market as intensely competitive.
It also points the future toward electric vehicle components, connected devices, smart homes, robotics, artificial intelligence, and B2B solutions.
- 2021: The mobile phone business is closed worldwide, according to a public corporate announcement.
- The same announcement points to future focus areas including EV components, connected devices, smart homes, robotics, AI, and B2B solutions.
2021: More Reshaping Inside the Group
The group history records several structural and partnership moves around this period.
It records the spin-off of LX Holdings.
It also records the LG Magna e-Powertrain joint venture, reinforcing the mobility theme.
- 2021: Spin-off of LX Holdings is recorded in group history.
- 2021: LG Magna e-Powertrain joint venture is recorded in group history.
2022: Building the Energy Storage Story
The battery future is not only about cars.
Energy storage becomes part of the narrative as well.
In 2022, the group history records the acquisition of NEC Energy Solutions.
- 2022: Acquisition of NEC Energy Solutions is recorded in group history.
A Hard Moment: Battery Quality and a Global Recall
When a company supplies critical parts, the stakes are high.
A Reuters report covers an expanded Chevrolet Bolt recall and describes the battery supplier relationship and the investigation and cost context discussed at the time.
It is a reminder that scale can magnify problems fast.
- A Reuters report describes the expanded Chevrolet Bolt recall and the supplier context involving LG entities.
2025: The Last Page of the Mobile Chapter
Even after a business closes, support systems can linger.
A U.S. notice states that mobile software update-related services would terminate on June 30, 2025.
It is a quiet ending to a loud era.
- 2025: Mobile software update-related services are set to terminate, according to a U.S. notice.
2025: Chemicals Under Pressure
The modern portfolio includes chemicals and materials, which move with global cycles.
A Reuters report in December 2025 says LG Chem submitted a petrochemicals restructuring plan to the government.
It is a sign of how fast industrial conditions can force change.
- 2025: A Reuters report says LG Chem submitted a petrochemicals restructuring plan.
2025: Demand Swings in the EV Supply Chain
The battery race is fast, but it is not smooth.
A Reuters report in December 2025 describes Ford canceling an EV battery supply deal with LG Energy Solution.
It underscores how customer plans can shift in real time.
- 2025: A Reuters report describes Ford canceling a battery supply deal with LG Energy Solution.
Competitors Across the Big Battlefields
Competition depends on the category.
In screens and appliances, the rivals are different than in batteries or chemicals.
The group competes in several arenas at once, which is part of the challenge and part of the advantage.
- Consumer electronics and appliances: Samsung Electronics, Sony, Panasonic, TCL, Hisense, Whirlpool, Haier (including GE Appliances).
- Displays and components: Samsung Display, BOE, AUO.
- Batteries and materials: CATL, Panasonic Energy, Samsung SDI, BYD, SK On.
- Chemicals: Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, BASF, Dow.
- Telecom in Korea: SK Telecom, KT.
What Changed Over Time
The earliest decades focused on essential goods and foundational electronics.
Later decades broadened into global manufacturing, screens, components, and mobility.
Recent years show sharper choices, including shutting down phones to place bigger bets elsewhere.
- 1940s–1960s: Consumer essentials and early domestic electronics firsts.
- 1970s–1990s: Export growth, overseas expansion, and a unified global brand identity.
- 2000s: A holding company structure and a formal “Way” in the recorded history.
- 2010s–2020s: Mobility and energy systems become central themes.
Lessons From the Journey
The story shows what happens when a company builds capability before it builds hype.
It also shows that walking away from a famous category can be a rational move.
The throughline is change that stays tied to a core promise: build what people will actually use.
- Early “firsts” show a focus on practical products that meet daily needs.
- The 1995 brand shift shows the power of one global identity.
- The 2021 phone exit shows a willingness to leave a crowded market and redirect resources.
- Battery and chemicals headlines show how risk rises with scale and industrial cycles.
Where Things Stand Now
The group remains a multi-business portfolio with major affiliates across electronics, displays, materials, batteries, telecom, and IT services.
The corporate affiliate descriptions show how these pieces fit together under one umbrella.
In the electronics flagship alone, the affiliate page highlights combined global revenue of over KRW 88 trillion in 2024 across its four companies.
- Electronics remains a major public-facing pillar, spanning TVs, appliances, air solutions, monitors, and vehicle solutions.
- Displays, components, and batteries form a deep technology layer behind consumer products and mobility systems.
- Telecom and IT services add another lane of scale through network and enterprise work.
Future Challenges and Opportunities
The official 2021 mobile announcement points toward connected devices, smart homes, robotics, AI, and B2B solutions.
Reuters reports in late 2025 underline how fast conditions can change in batteries and petrochemicals.
The next chapter will likely be shaped by how well the portfolio absorbs shocks and turns new bets into stable products.
- EV demand can swing, and large customer decisions can change quickly.
- Industrial materials can face oversupply and restructuring pressure.
- Opportunity areas named in public statements include EV components, connected devices, smart homes, robotics, AI, and B2B solutions.
Timeline of Key Years
The timeline below follows the official history markers and major public turning points.
Each entry uses a year-only stamp to keep the arc clean and easy to scan.
When you read it straight through, you can see the shift from essentials to electronics, then to mobility and energy systems.
1947
Lucky Chemical Co., Ltd. is established, beginning the modern origin story.
1952
The corporate history records Korea’s first plastics plant under Lak Hui Chemical Industrial Corp.
1958
GoldStar is founded as an electronics company, opening the door to household technology.
1959
The corporate timeline highlights the first radio, a milestone often framed as a national first.
1965
The corporate timeline highlights the first refrigerator, signaling a shift toward home appliances.
1966
The corporate timeline highlights the first TV, an early landmark in the electronics story.
1969
The corporate history highlights the first washing machine and records the death of Chairman In-hwoi Koo.
1970
Cha-kyung Koo becomes chairman, marking a leadership transition in the recorded history.
1974
Lak Hui Chemical changes its name to Lucky Co., Ltd., reinforcing the “Lucky” identity.
1978
The electronics timeline highlights $100 million in exports, a visible marker of scale.
1982
The electronics timeline marks the first overseas production base in the United States.
1983
The group name changes to Lucky Goldstar, blending the two core identities.
1990
The group history introduces Customer-Value Creation and People-Oriented Management.
1995
The group history records adoption of the LG name and identity, and the electronics flagship records a rebrand.
1999
The electronics timeline highlights a joint venture to develop LCD panels, and a report describes sole ownership of Zenith.
2003
LG Corp launches as a holding company, reshaping the group’s structure.
2005
The group history records the separation of LG and GS and the announcement of LG Way.
2013
The electronics timeline highlights the establishment of a vehicle solutions unit.
2018
The group history records Kwang-mo Koo’s inauguration as CEO of LG Corp and the acquisition of ZKW.
2019
The group history records the acquisition of CJ HELLO and an EV battery joint venture with GM.
2020
The electronics timeline highlights the launch of the world’s first Rollable OLED TV.
2021
A public corporate announcement states the mobile phone business will close worldwide, and the group history records other reshaping moves.
2022
The group history records the acquisition of NEC Energy Solutions, strengthening the energy storage story.
2024
The electronics flagship describes combined global revenue of over KRW 88 trillion across its four companies.
2025
Mobile software update-related services are set to terminate, and Reuters reports highlight restructuring pressure in petrochemicals and demand swings in EV batteries.
Sources: LG Corp, LG, LG Newsroom, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Channel NewsAsia, Strubbl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
