LG Announces First-Quarter 2021 Financial Results

A picture of LG Twin Towers in the daytime

Highest Quarterly Revenue and Operating Profit in Company’s History

SEOUL, Apr. 29, 2021 — LG Electronics Inc. (LG) today announced first-quarter 2021 consolidated sales of KRW 18.81 trillion (USD 16.90 billion) and operating profit of KRW 1.52 trillion (USD 1.36 billion) – the highest quarterly results in the company’s history with the 8.1 percent operating profit being a first-quarter record. Compared with the first quarter a year ago, revenues grew by 27.7 percent and profitability soared by 39.1 percent, reflecting very strong demand for LG home appliances and home entertainment products as consumers around the world continue to spend more time at home.

The LG Home Appliance & Air Solution Company generated first-quarter sales of KRW 6.71 trillion (USD 6.03 billion), an increase of 23.8 percent from the previous year. Operating profit of KRW 919.90 billion (USD 826.39 million) was 22.1 percent higher than the first quarter last year. For the second consecutive quarter the appliance business division saw significant growth year-on-year in North America and Europe as well as in its home market of South Korea where the rental business is particularly healthy. Profitability was accompanied by stable growth led by strong sales of premium products in North America and Europe. The business unit expects to see continued growth by expanding overseas sales in new products.

The LG Home Entertainment Company recorded sales of KRW 4.01 trillion (USD 3.60 billion) in the first quarter, an increase of 34.9 percent from the same period a year ago. Operating income grew 23.9 percent year-on-year to KRW 403.80 billion (USD 362.75 million), buoyed by strong sales in North America and Europe. Premium products led by OLED and NanoCell TVs continued to experience strong demand as the pandemic effect continued in most of the world. To maintain this success in 2021, LG will continue to enhance its premium product lineup, further expand online sales, optimize resources and streamline asset management.

The LG Mobile Communications Company reported sales in the first quarter of KRW 998.70 billion (USD 897.18 million) with an operating loss of KRW 280.10 billion (USD 251.63 million). Operating loss deteriorated 28 percent from the same quarter a year ago due to the lack of new products in light of the public announcement earlier this month that LG will exit the smartphone business at the end of July. Profit and loss for discontinued operations – including a breakdown of continuing and discontinued operations – will be included in the second quarter results.

The LG Vehicle component Solutions Company achieved first-quarter sales of KRW 1.89 trillion (USD 1.70 billion), an increase of 43.5 percent from the same period last year. Operating loss narrowed to KRW 700 million (USD 629,000), which can be attributed to the recovery of the automotive sector in North America and Europe as well as increased revenues from new projects in the e-Powertrain and infotainment sectors and better cost management.

The LG Business Solutions Company saw improved first-quarter revenues of KRW 1.86 trillion (USD 1.67 billion), an increase of 9.1 percent from a year ago and 23.6 percent higher than the previous quarter largely on the back of strong demand for products such as monitors and PC products in the era of remote working and online learning. Operating profit of KRW 134 billion (USD 120.38 million) declined from the same quarter last year due to the increasing cost of components such as LCD panels and semiconductors.

2021 1Q Exchange Rates Explained

LG Electronics’ unaudited quarterly earnings results are based on IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) for the three-month period ending March 31, 2021. Amounts in Korean won (KRW) are translated into U.S. dollars (USD) at the average rate of the three-month period of the corresponding quarter — KRW 1,113.16 per USD.

Earnings Conference and Conference Call

LG Electronics will hold a Korean / English conference call on April 29, 2021 at 16:00 Korea Standard Time (07:00 GMT/UTC). Conference call participants are instructed to pre-register online to receive a private PIN number then call +82 31 810 3130 and enter passcode 6418# and the private PIN number. The audio webcast of the call will be available for streaming as well. The corresponding presentation file can be downloaded from the LG Electronics website before the call.

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Giving a “Second Life” to Unwanted Clothing

Giving a “Second Life” to Unwanted Clothing

A woman looking through the clothes on display at The Second Life Campaign venue which is being hosted by LG Electronics

With millions of pounds of clothing ending up in U.S. landfills each year and COVID-19 hygiene concerns challenging donations, LG Electronics USA is helping take action with “Second Life” – a campaign to raise awareness of clothing waste and inspire consumers to take responsible action through fabric care, donations and upcycling.

A leader in laundry innovation, LG kicked off its efforts with a seven-city road tour running from April 25 – May 9 to collect used clothing and recycle 100 percent of items received. Plus, the brand is also encouraging clothing reuse by inviting attendees to exchange unwanted items in a clothing swap stocked with rare vintage finds from thrift chain Round Two.

While LG’s top-rated laundry appliances help millions of Americans take the very best care of their fabrics, styles change, tastes change, even sizes change – and most unwanted textiles end up in landfills. In fact, the average American generates 81 pounds (37 kg) of textile waste each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“As a leader when it comes to fabric care, LG is invested in how to care for your clothes throughout their lifecycle – from how you wash them to how you ultimately dispose of them,” said Peggy Ang, head of marketing at LG Electronics USA. “With Second Life, we’re aiming to help raise awareness and inspire consumers to care for what they wear by taking responsible action throughout the entire lifecycle of their clothes.”

To bring the tour one step closer to circularity, and to illustrate how to care for what you wear, LG is also raising awareness around upcycling and partnering with designer Nicole McLaughlin to upcycle leftover items from the clothing drive into a limited-edition capsule collection to be unveiled later this fall.

The LG Second Life Road Tour

As part of the Tour, LG is committing to collecting up to 10,000 pounds of clothing to be donated to local organizations to help support families in need of clean clothes. The company is creating a wash center fully equipped with ultra-capacity LG washers and dryers and LG Styler steam closets in Los Angeles to clean, sanitize and sort clothing donations before donating them to local beneficiaries. All unusable items will be upcycled so that 100 percent of collected items are given a “second life.”

LG Second Life is just getting started and has exciting activities planned to help raise awareness around clothing care and clothing waste, as well as tips and resources designed to inspire people to upcycle and recycle their once loved items. Learn more at www.LGSecondLife.com.

Do Good, Feel Good, Life’s Good

The Second Life campaign, along with LG’s commitment to carbon neutrality in all of its operations by 2030, are only some of the steps LG is taking toward its ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) philosophy to make the world a better place. With ENERGY STAR^® certified appliances and its expanding eco-friendly businesses such as electric vehicle (EV) components and solutions and renewable energy, LG is committed to doing its part.

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[On the Job] When Design Goes Beyond Just Products

In this episode of On the Job, we take a look at the pivotal role played by the LG’s unsung brand and packaging designers.

In the consumer electronics industry, the term “design” usually conjures up images of gadgets and devices on a drawing board. Although the way a product looks is without a doubt a key factor to its popularity, so too are the way it’s packaged and branded. Done well, these two elements can go a long way toward creating a unique, instantly recognizable identity, one that resonates with consumers and communicates the core values of a product or lineup and the company that made them.

At LG, the responsibilities of brand and package design fall on the visual identity (VI) team at LG Corporate Design Center. When designing a logo or package for a new model or product range, the VI team considers a range of factors such as consumers’ needs, legibility and usability, never losing sight of their goal to establish a clear identity that creates a good first impression but also an instant understanding of what the brand stands for.

A distinctive logo is at the heart of any good brand’s visual identity. LG’s VI team develops a symbol that embodies the essence of every product and effectively communicates their differentiated values. LG SIGNATURE, LG PuriCare, LG CordZero, LG OLED TV and LG UltraGear are just a handful of the globally recognized logos the team has created to date.

Able to enhance a product’s appeal and reinforce its overall aesthetic, packaging design gives the VI team another way to express the identity of each LG brand, in addition to affording adequate protection for the company’s diverse offerings.

LG UltraGear^TM gaming monitors have made a name for themselves among serious gamers worldwide by providing great picture quality and performance. Seeking to match the monitors’ strong reputation with an equally dynamic symbol, LG introduced a new UltraGear logo in 2020. In order to convey that LG UltraGear is a key “weapon in the quest for gaming victory and glory,” the VI team set about researching the legendary weapons of mythical heroes and gods, such as the shield of Isis, King Arthur’s Excalibur, and the Harpe of Perseus. The team ultimately drew inspiration from the famous Greek sculpture known as the Winged Victory of Samothrace – also known as the Nike of Samothrace – representing action and triumph.

The winged motif seemed like the perfect choice for the UltraGear emblem due to the prevalence and significance of wings throughout gaming history. Wings symbolize many things: aerial superiority over opponents, fast travel to new destinations, tactical advantage by surveying from above. The final version of the logo depicts Nike’s wings in the form of a stylized U and G in two versions, one flat and the other in 3D.

From left: Seo Young-seok, Jun A-reum, Nam A-ran

“Creating and developing LG UltraGear’s emblem was a meaningful and rewarding process,” stated Seo Young-seok of LG’s VI team. “We feel that it successfully expresses the identity of our premium gaming monitor brand and how seriously LG takes the needs of the gaming community.”

To increase consumer awareness and raise the profile of the new emblem at launch, LG hosted an art contest to involve fans in the creative process because there is nothing more powerful than visually communicating the value of a product through great design to grab the attention of consumers in a crowded market.

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[AI Experience] The Public Perception of AI

An illustration of a man being influenced by news and other cultural factors, such as social media, to represent public perception regarding AI.

In this first of six episodes of AI Experience, we’ll take a closer look at the influence of public perception in the future direction of artificial intelligence.

The European Union’s recent proposals to strictly regulate the use of artificial intelligence in its borders are likely to have significant consequences on AI development. The guidelines are designed to address the human and societal rights that may be at risk due to AI’s potential in surveillance and identification. For nations and people to make the right decisions, it’s important that there be public discourse on what AI is and what it should be.

LG Electronics has already begun this process.

Developed last year in partnership between LG and Element AI, the report AIX Exchange: The Future of AI and Human Experience covers the challenges of the artificial intelligence experience (AIX) across the six core themes of public perception, ethics, transparency, user experience, context and relationship.

Public perception, the way people think and feel about a subject, plays an important role in the kind of AI products and services consumers choose to adopt. This, in turn, influences the direction of AI development and advancement. For example, if consumers are obsessed with intelligent toasters, there’s a strong chance many AI companies will pour their resources into coming up with a new AI toaster that can top the current AI toaster. Here, we’ll take a look at five areas that greatly influence the public’s opinion and awareness of AI: news and pop culture, language, marketing, design and education.

News and Pop Culture

From 1927’s Metropolis to 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) to Ex Machina in 2015, AI rarely paints a bright future that offers us hope. Although there are many stories in the news media about how AI is improving lives, there are as many that portray the technology as the villain, stealing jobs and futures. Those involved in developing the technology are acutely aware of the impact this has on consumer confidence and trust, and just how important it is to separate fact from fiction when communicating AI.

Language

Words can sometimes be open to interpretation, and this seems to be especially true where AI is concerned. The world “learning” could make a person believe that a machine that “learns” can do far more than what it was programmed to do, creating fear and mistrust. As AI is such a vague and amorphous concept for many, companies in the AI sector need to take great care when describing their products and services, leaving no room for misunderstanding. Choosing words wisely may help to better deliver the promise of AI.

Marketing

On a daily basis, consumers are exposed to marketing that promotes AI products and services – most of which offer convenience by managing simple tasks independently or with little user input. But there are many situations where the marketing suggests these innovations will revolutionize users’ way of life, which raises expectations for AI beyond what is currently possible. The overpromising marketing bubble can lead to disappointment and negatively affect public perception, fueling a phenomenon known as AI winter.

AI winter refers to setbacks in the development of AI resulting from a lack of enthusiasm and interest among consumers and investors. Because the technology is not advancing as fast as people had hoped, and doesn’t yet resemble the AI of Hollywood movies, companies should be wary of overstating what their offerings can do. In this way, they can avoid contributing to negative public sentiment and allow users to fully appreciate what the technology can deliver right now.

Design

The experience that users have when interacting with AI is another critical element in determining public perception. Personal AIX stories – good and bad – are shared every day on social media, reconfirming people’s positive or negative perceptions and influencing the opinions of those who have yet to use any AI-based solutions. To ensure better experiences with AI, the adoption of a human-centered approach to AI design is critical. A thorough examination of what consumers need and desire, as well as pain points that detract from a product’s value, are essential to the development of capabilities that deliver greater practical value in daily life.

Education

“Technology literacy is not only important for the people who are building the systems to help them think about the impact of what they’re building,” said Charles Lee Isbell, Dean of the College of Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “It is at least as important, perhaps more important that we teach people who are not going to build those systems, but are going to be impacted by those systems.”

The more the public is educated about AI, the faster it will adapt to and appreciate the benefits the technology can bring. Conversely, more education will also help the public understand what AI isn’t and that the machine overlord takeover will not be the inevitable consequence of letting a smart speaker into the home.

At the end of the day, there are a variety of factors that impact the public’s perception of AI and the impact of that perception is larger than one might be led to think. Through consumer-centric AIX, companies can help create a path to where the direction and development of AI results in the greatest benefit to humankind.

Visit www.AIXexchange.com to discover the perspective of AI experts and leaders in various fields such as design, anthropology, policy, consumer and employee advocacy. LG ThinQ platform (thinq.developer.lge.com) is also available to external partners and developers to accelerate the development of its AI technology.

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Zero Carbon 2030 Pledge

A special video capturing LG's green initiatives will debut on the Times Square billboard in New York City on Earth Day, April 22. To learn more about LG Electronics' ENERGY STAR-certified products and green initiatives, please visit www.LG.com.

Home Entertainment That’s Healthier for Consumers, Friendlier to the Planet

An Aerial Photo of a forest with lakes representing the world’s continents and the phrase "Thinking Bigger To Help the Planet" overlapping.

In many places around the world, daily life is now spent primarily within the safer confines of home. One of the byproducts of this new homebound lifestyle is that there is more time to contemplate important topics, such as what can we do to make the world a better place? When we consider how to ensure a good future for the planet and its inhabitants, sustainability is likely one of the first words that comes to mind. But what exactly is enough sustainability and how do we get there?

Sustainability is commonly used to refer to a broad range of activities and initiatives geared towards maintaining the health of the environment and promoting a lifestyle more in balance with nature. However, it is not something that can be achieved through focusing on any one area, or through the efforts of any one person. Sustainability requires everyone to play their part and reassess – and in many cases, change – the way they live, work and play.

As a leading consumer electronics manufacturer, LG has long been a proponent of doing right by the consumer and the planet, an approach that can clearly be seen in its latest home entertainment products, including its acclaimed OLED TVs. Sustainability is factored into every stage of LG OLED TV’s lifecycle, from product development to manufacturing and usage and even disposal.

The company’s next-generation TVs use panels that have received Eco-Product recognition from Swiss-based SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA, a respected provider of testing, inspection and certification services based in Geneva.¹ SGS found LG OLED panels to be particularly strong in key evaluation categories covering the lowering of indoor air pollutants, the reduction in the use of hazardous substances, and recyclability.

LG OLED’s “eco” credentials are largely the result of its unique, self-lit display technology, which also enables the pixel-level dimming so crucial to the TVs’ superior picture quality. As it does not require a backlighting structure, LG OLED uses fewer components (mostly made from plastics, one of the major causes of environmental problems) than LED-LCD TV and emits less indoor air pollutants.

Indoor air quality also can be a concern about any electronic devices because of the potential health issues that volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) released into the air may occur when heat is generated. Total VOC emissions from an LG OLED panel is less than 50 percent of a typical LCD TV panel and unlike some high-end LCD products, LG OLED TV panels do not use any components containing hazardous substances such as cadmium and indium phosphide.

The panels also offer excellent resource efficiency and a comparatively-high recycling rate, all of which speaks to LG’s consistent and wide-ranging efforts to increase sustainability at all points of its products’ journey.

Not only is LG OLED TV better for the environment and indoor air quality, but protects consumers’ eyes as well. With people spending more time in front of their TVs in the social distancing era, instances of eye strain and fatigue have been on the rise. In a survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Fight for Sight, more than a third of all respondents said that their eyesight had worsened in recent months.²

Where watching the TV is concerned, screen flickering and the emission of blue light are the main culprits for eye-related issues. Screen flickering is known to cause eye fatigue and headaches, and after prolonged exposure, even diminished vision, while blue light can lead to disruptions in sleep patterns, eye strain, dry eyes and feelings of exhaustion. With LG OLED, neither flickering nor blue light is a problem.

Thanks to their advanced OLED panels, LG OLED TVs have been found to be flicker-free and discomfort glare free by UL. They are also TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe^® certified for meeting low blue light requirements, emitting approximately 50 percent less blue light than similarly-sized premium LCD TV panels.

When it comes to immersive home entertainment experiences, sound quality is just as important as picture quality. LG OLED TVs are not the only “eco” products considering the planet and consumers. LG’s latest audio solutions that deliver dynamic, realistic sound, demonstrate the same focus on sustainability that can be seen in its next-gen TVs.

LG’s 2021 soundbars use recycled materials such as resin for the outer cases of many of the models while some models feature jersey fabric made from recycled PET bottles and have been certified as meeting the Global Recycled Standard.³In fact, many of LG’s soundbars have received UL 2809 Environmental Claim Validation Procedure (ECVP) for Recycled Content, an assurance to consumers that these products are indeed as environmentally responsible as advertised.⁴

In another measure to reduce environmental impact and waste, LG has adopted earth-minded packaging for the entire lineup. Using mainly recycled molded pulp, and greatly reduced quantities of EPS foam and plastic, the packaging has earning Eco-Product certification from SGS.⁵ As such, the soundbars have been assessed by SGS to have minimal environmental impact, emitting less air pollutants, containing few hazardous substances and providing a high degree of recyclability. What’s more, the packaging is designed in an “L” shape so more soundbars can fit in a typical delivery truck, lowering CO₂ emissions.

For home entertainment products that take both consumers’ and the environment’s health into consideration, LG continues to lead the way with a commitment as unwavering as its resolve to deliver the most immersive home entertainment experience possible.

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¹According to SGS Eco-Product certification ECO/18/CEBEC/00003, OLED TV panels are recognized as Eco-Product based on data showing they reduce the use of hazardous substances (Cd and InP free), reduce indoor (VOC) emissions during use phase and are excellent in resource and recycling efficiency.
²Online poll of 2,021 respondents conducted by YouGov on behalf of Fight for Sight in November 2020.
³Models SP7Y, SP2W, G1.
⁴Models SP11RA, SP9YA, SP8YA, SP7Y, SPD7Y, SP2W.
⁵Models SP11RA, SP9YA, SP8YA, SP7Y.

LG SIGNATURE

The Essentials of Luxury in Tech: Innovation

With home still the place to be in early 2021, many consumers are investing in ways to make their living environments more comfortable, convenient, healthy and even a little bit more stylish. So much in fact that high-end home categories including premium household appliances, premium furniture and designer interiors are seeing across the board growth this year.

In a recent survey conducted by the Luxury Institute’s Global Luxury Expert Network (GLEN), 56 percent of respondents agreed that high-end home appliances will see a jump in sales throughout 2021, while 68 percent felt the same about the home furnishings market and 96 percent expressed confidence in the continuing growth of the health and wellness sector.¹

With more time spent at home, consumers are fueling a boom in the home furnishings market as they find more time to curate their own living spaces. It might be argued that this trend is long overdue since who wouldn’t agree that homes should be designed by the people who are going to spend the most time in them? And premium furniture brands seem more than happy to embrace innovation while still adhering to their brand heritage and design identity.

Pairing timeless beauty with exclusive technical and design innovations, Italian luxury furniture maker Molteni provides the customization options – and style – that discerning consumers demand. A great example of this is Molteni’s tailored wardrobe system which offers a range of material and design choices, including doors with 180-degree hinges, exposed aluminum frames inlaid with four-millimeter-thick crystals and handles made from pewter or clad in eco skin.²

Interior design can reflect current aesthetic trends and the technology as well as the individual tastes and lifestyles of a home’s occupants. Since the arrival of the pandemic, many people are choosing materials, fixtures and products for the home not only for reasons of lifestyle-fit, but because they create a more sanitary environment.

Several brands including Kohler and Marazzi have introduced solutions for a healthier, more hygienic living space to meet growing consumer demand. Kohler introduced a collection of touchless and voice-activated kitchen faucets compatible with Alexa and Google and toilets with hands-free flushing, to reduce the chances of spreading germs.³ Italian tile manufacturer Marazzi introduced antibacterial Carácter tiles with antibacterial properties.

LG is also seeing strong interest in its luxury lifestyle products under the LG SIGNATURE brand. A perfect example is LG SIGNATURE Wine Cellar with InstaView^TM technology. With wine sales up during the pandemic, this might just be the perfect home furnishing for vino lovers to store different wine varieties in precisely-controlled, customizable climate zones for their viewing pleasure without opening the door – which would disturb the consistent temperature – with a simple knock.

LG SIGNATURE honors the essence of each product it makes, elevating both functionality and aesthetics with state-of-the-art technology and distinctive, minimalist design. Cue LG SIGNATURE OLED R, the world’s first rollable TV that movie lovers will want to choose over the cinema. The TV’s 65-inch flexible OLED display delivers supreme picture quality and creates new design possibilities and spatial freedom by disappearing from view when not in use. LG’s revolutionary TV offers three compelling modes – Full View, Line View and Zero View – where the amount of visible screen changes to suit the content or the situation.

Empowered with advanced technology, stylish design, and hygiene-promoting features, the today’s luxury products represent innovation at its finest. The new wave of home-living solutions, like those from LG SIGNATURE, are making life infinitely more comfortable and elegant in the stay-at-home era.

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¹Luxury Institute: Top-Tier Luxury Experts’ Forecast for the Luxury Industry in 2021, PR Newswire, Oct. 1, 2020.
²Designer Wardrobes Modern Contemporary Design | Molteni&C.
³KOHLER Expands Smart Home Collection at CES 2021, Emphasizes Well-being and Touchless Experiences for Kitchen and Bath, PR Newswire, Jan. 11, 2021.

The Evolution of LG Manufacturing in Vietnam

A front view of the LG Haiphong Campus in Vietnam

Since LG’s announcement to withdraw from the smartphone business, Vietnam’s production facility has become the topic of much speculation and rumors, given its role as LG’s largest smartphone production base. But the evolution and transformation of the Haiphong Campus is only just beginning with the future looking bright for Vietnam and LG’s local employees.

“Exiting smartphone production here is part of LG’s plan to restructure our core product portfolio,” said Jung Hai-jin, president of LG Electronics Vietnam. “The closing of LG’s mobile business will not significantly impact LG’s production, business activities or employees in Haiphong.”

Jung said LG will reorganize and expand its Vietnam production by focusing on manufacturing a wider range of products that are currently in high demand around the world, such as home appliances. LG plans to complete the transformation and reallocate all workers within this year. Additional investment plans will be announced once the transformation has been completed.

LG opened its Haiphong Campus in 2015 to produce smartphones, TVs as well as household appliances. Affiliates such as LG Innotek and LG Display have also setup in Haiphong, producing camera modules and displays. Currently there are more than 16,000 employees at Haiphong and if all goes according to plan, LG’s Vietnam manufacturing center should see strong growth in the years to come.

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LG Ushers In Smart and Healthy Laundromats of the Future

A woman is putting laundry into dryer at Laundry Lounge.

Designed for Urban Dwellers Who Desire Clean
Clothes in a User-Friendly Environment

SEOUL, Apr. 20, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) unveiled its first smart laundromat outside of its home country test market, signaling the future direction of the laundromat experience. LG’s Laundry Lounge is a digital, contactless public laundry facility located in Manila, Philippines designed to deliver a premium and convenient laundry experience for both owners and customers.

With only 30 percent of households in the Philippines owning washing machines and even less owning dryers, commercial laundromats are very popular. And even for those 30 percent, the machines tend to be small, meaning having to run multiple loads for large families. As a result, commercial laundromats are quite popular in the Philippines and considered a good business for investment, with as many as 1,500 new laundromats opening every year.

But the pandemic has made visiting laundromats a stressful experience for many.

With LG’s Laundry Lounge, owners can monitor their business remotely while customers can check washer/dryer availability and keep an eye on the progress of their clothes from any location. And because LG is a global leader in laundry solutions, users Laundry Lounge can feel confident knowing that their clothes are getting the best care possible in an LG washing machine or dryer.

The Laundry Lounge app makes the entire laundromat experience healthier and easier. Available for Android devices, LG’s app allows customers to make contactless payment, reserve a washer or dryer in advance and monitor their laundry’s progress from home or the car so there’s no need to wait in line. Laundry Lounge owners can also be part of the solution rather than the problem by running their business completely remotely. Revenues, machine breakdowns and any other issues are communicated via the app so there’s no need to be on site all the time.

LG’s commercial washing machine and dryer models employ many innovative features to deliver clean, gentle clothing care. Every washing machine incorporates effective hygiene technology that cleans the drum before, during, and after every cycle and LG’s commercial dryer employees high temperature air to sanitize clothes of germs and bacteria. For maximum hygiene, the Laundry Lounge includes LG Styler wardrobe management units which customers can use to steam clean clothes such as coats, suits and scarves that cannot be washed in water.

“The opening of LG’s first digital Laundry Lounge outside its test market demonstrates LG’s commitment to providing operators and customers with a smarter, safer way to turn laundry into big business,” said Don Kwack, senior vice president and head of LG Electronics Home Appliance and Air Solution Company’s overseas sales and marketing. “LG Laundry Lounge introduces both smart and convenient features to the laundromat environment, trends which we think urban consumers will really appreciate.”

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New ProBeam Business Projectors From LG Offer Even Greater Convenience and Performance

People are having a business meeting with a projected screen at the front

Bright 6,000 ANSI Lumens Laser Projectors Deliver 4K UHD and WUXGA Images,
Smart Connection and More Convenient Features for Business

SEOUL, Apr. 16, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) has added two new outstanding offerings to its ProBeam lineup of business projectors. The new models – BU60PST and BF60PST – offer a number of enhancements and features that bring greater performance to the office or school. With great image quality and a plethora of useful features, these latest LG ProBeam models can help users better deliver important information and key messages in almost any setting, from the boardroom to the classroom.

LG’s premium projectors are ideal for use in diverse setting, including corporate, retail, hospitality or education. Introduced last year, LG’s ProBeam brand of projectors are designed to deliver premium-level projection solutions for professional environments. Both new projectors provide improved brightness and high resolution for crisp, clear images to everyone in the room. Model BU60PST delivers a 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) image at a maximum of 300 inches (measured diagonally), approximately four times the clarity of WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200), the resolution offered by many business projectors currently on the market.

Peak brightness of 6,000 ANSI lumens and contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1 translates to images that can be seen just as easily in daylight conditions as in a darkened environment.^* The laser light source in both ProBeam models is rated for 20,000 hours, approximately four times longer than projectors with conventional lamps. With support for HDR10, both BU60PST and BF60PST can reproduce stunning HDR content as it was meant to be seen, with exceptionally deep blacks and rich, dynamic, colors.

Like their predecessors (models BU50NST and BF50NST), LG’s latest ProBeam solutions are equipped with features that are perfect for business meetings and conferences. Users can connect either of the new projectors directly to a company or conference facility network via wired or wireless connection, eliminating the need for a laptop. Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel files can be opened directly from a USB device thanks to the built-in Office viewer. Screen sharing and screen mirroring make it especially easy to project content from devices running the Windows or Android operating system, giving users more options for displaying their presentations.

“As offices and schools reopen, we expect there will be a growing demand for upgraded presentation tools after the Zoom era,” said Jang Ik-hwan, senior vice president and head of the IT business unit of LG Electronics Business Solutions Company. “Designed specifically for business and education environments, LG ProBeam projectors are adaptable solutions that can facilitate better communication and enhance productivity.”

LG’s new 2021 ProBeam models will be available starting in the second quarter in North America, followed by key markets in Europe and Asia.

Key Specifications:

		BU60PST	BF60PST
Projection System		DLP	DLP
Native Resolution		4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160)	WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200)
HDR		HDR10	HDR10
Light Source Type		Laser (LD + P/W)	Laser (LD + P/W)
Light Source Life Time (High Brightness)		20,000 hours	20,000 hours
Brightness		6,000 ANSI Lumens	6,000 ANSI Lumens
Contrast Ratio (Full On / Full Off)		3,000,000:1	3,000,000:1
Noise (Typical)	High / Mid / Low	33 / 30 / 29 dB(A)	33 / 30 / 29 dB(A)
Projection Lens	Lens Shift	Horizontal ± 20%, Vertical ± 50%	Horizontal ± 20%, Vertical ± 50%
	Zoom	x 1.6	x 1.6
	Screen Size	40-300 inches	40- 300 inches
	Throw Ratio	1.30 – 2.08	1.30 – 2.08
Sound	Speaker Output	5W + 5W Stereo	5W + 5W Stereo
Sound	Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Gross Size (W x D x H)		580 x 441 x 273 mm	580 x 441 x 273 mm
Net Weight		9.7 kg	9.2 kg
HDMI		2	2
USB Type-A		2 (USB 2.0)	2 (USB 2.0)
Platform		webOS 4.5	webOS 4.5
DICOM		O	O
HDBaseT		O	O
RS-232		O	O

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^*Brightness, or lumens, is based on the perceived brightness equivalent to the brightness of lamp projector.

LG Racks Up 31 Red Dot Design Awards

LG's collection of Red Dot Award-winning home appliances including its air conditioner, Styler, refrigerator and more are displayed in a modern, spacious living room to give the space a greater sense of style.

Recognized Again for Excellence in Product Design by Industry Experts

SEOUL, Apr. 14, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) has once again been recognized for its strength in consumer and industrial design, earning an impressive 31 product design accolades at this year’s Red Dot Award, one of the design industry’s top honors. Introduced at CES 2021, LG’s designer appliances was honored with 5 awards which includes InstaView^® Door-in-Door^® refrigerator, Fridge and Freezer pair, CordZero stick vacuum, air conditioner and Styler.

Among the most meaningful is the honor bestowed upon LG designer appliances in the Materials and Surfaces category for their implementation of color, material and finish (CMF). Introduced as a bold reimagining of conventional appliances, LG’s designer appliances is a melding of technologically advanced home appliances with premium materials that can be customized to meet the specifications of each customer. Materials such as stainless steel, glass, metal and FENIX – an innovative material with advanced coating technology developed by Arpa Industriale – are utilized to illuminate the refinement of each product in the collection.

Other honors include recognition for LG WashTower™, a single-unit, vertical laundry solution that frees up more floor space while handling ultra-large loads, for exceptional design. Beyond home appliances, a number of LG’s computer products such as UltraGear™ gaming monitor and LG gram were commended for their advanced, sleek designs that exemplified the products’ core values.

The Red Dot Design Award is one of the three most prestigious professional design competitions in the world and the distinctive mark has become established internationally as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for exceptional design. This year some 7,800 products were submitted for the jury’s consideration.

“As a brand that strives to deliver quality products with exceptional design, it is always a great honor to receive recognition from Red Dot,” Lee Chul-bae, head of LG Electronics’ Corporate Design Management Center. “LG is devoted to meeting consumers’ desire to enhance the quality of space with high-quality products that also look good and we will continue to pursue innovative designs that deliver on these expectations.”

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Small Changes, Big Planet

A photo showing half the landscape as a landfill and the other half as a beautiful meadow

The foundation of the fast-growing field of behavioral economics is that small changes lead to big results. In the Harvard Business Review, professors John Beshears and Francesca Gina write that “changes need not involve a lot of time and effort to implement; in fact, very simple adjustments can produce powerful benefits for individuals and organizations.”¹

To encourage consumers to make small changes to achieve a common goal, LG a sustainability-focused online campaign #CareForWhatYouWear which has to date achieved 100 million cumulative views on LG Electronics’ YouTube channels over the globe including United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and so on.

The campaign reflects LG’s ESG philosophy and leverages the company’s global presence to deliver a message of hope and sustainability to consumers world over. The video that introduces the campaign shows the significant environmental impact of disposable fashion and the growing volume of clothing being thrown away every year after very little use – 5.8 million tons in Europe alone.²

Most importantly, the video highlights how consumers can play a part in improving the situation by taking better care of the clothes in their care, recycling old garments instead of discarding them and passing on unwanted items to others who will make use of them.

LG’s range of laundry solutions, including washing machines, dryers and the Styler, can extend the lifespan of garments, cleaning and refreshing with thorough yet gentle care that minimizes fabric damage.³ The #CareForWhatYouWear campaign invites consumers to join the sustainable clothing movement and share how they keep their favorite items of clothing looking great season after season.

As part of this campaign, LG is also collaborating with NET-A-PORTER, a leading online luxury fashion retailer, to offer a limited-edition line of stylish, environmentally-responsible clothing. Made from highly durable, machine washable materials, the collection was designed to be easily cared for at home without the need for dry cleaning’s harmful chemicals.

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¹ https://hbr.org/2014/09/to-change-employee-or-customer-behavior-start-small#
² “Textiles and the environment in a circular economy.” European Environment Agency, 2019.
³ Washing machine: AI DD™ provides 18 percent more fabric protection to help extend the lifespan of clothing. Tested by Intertek in March 2019 comparing Cotton cycle with 2kg of underwear to LG’s conventional Cotton cycle (F4V9RWP2W vs. FC1450S2W). AI DD available for three cycles (Cotton, Mixed Fabric and Easy Care). Using LG’s low temperature heat pump technology, LG DUAL Inverter Heat Pump™ Dryer and Styler help protect clothes from damage. Results may differ depending on load composition and environmental factors.

Making Everyday Home Products More Accessible

An illustration of people with different disabilities conveniently using appliances through LG's innovative technology.

Most everyone agrees that technology and innovation have made our lives immensely easier and more productive. Two decades ago, working and studying from home was an entirely different experience without broadband, smartphones or Zoom. But there has been a need to make such technological innovation more accessible to everyone.

As part of the company’s new ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) initiatives covering human rights, LG is committing to making its home appliances more accessible to the physically challenged. The new vertical laundry solution, WashTower, will be the first appliance from LG to include audio instructions and braille overlays. LG will increase the number of more accessible home appliance products and markets over the course of the year, starting with the enhanced WashTower and CordZero M9 robot vacuum cleaner.

Voice instructions in LG WashTower and CordZero M9 vacuum will make it easier for customers with visual impairment to access the appliance’s many advanced features via audio prompts alone. Additional tones will be implemented throughout the washing machine so there is clear feedback whenever a button is pressed to better guide the user in selecting the correct function and options.

Navigating LG WashTower’s Center Control for visually impaired customers will be infinitely more convenient with the use of braille overlays. Accessibility enhancements for more LG products including robot vacuums, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators and air conditioners are in the works.

With a greater commitment toward good ESG management, LG is putting in place the necessary components to help ensure a better society for all and a better life for every customer. This effort has not gone unnoticed by LG’s long-time accessibility partner in the United States, the National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM), who is also a member of the LG Accessibility Advisory Council.

“LG’s U.S. accessibility council activities are particularly noteworthy; global teams from LG come together to host nearly a dozen leading U.S. accessibility experts and disability advocacy organization leaders,” said Donna Danielewski of NCAM. “They provide candid and critical input and feedback on LG’s latest hardware, software, and planned activities – while also receiving updates about LG’s progress along its accessibility journey. Our team in NCAM is always grateful for the opportunity to learn from the council participants (as well as representatives from all levels of LG) while also bringing our own expertise to the table.”

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LG Newsroom