Don't Look Now, the Smart Home Revolution is Already Here

Don’t Look Now, the Smart Home Revolution is Already Here

An illustration of a three-story house with people inside conveniently using LG's devices thanks to the LG ThinQ app and its diverse features.

Life as we knew it may never be the same again. More time spent at home has piqued the interest of consumers looking to adopt a more intelligent way of living. This growing desire for seamless, connected, “work and play” environments is what is bringing the future faster to consumers today. Fortune Business Insights™ predicts¹ the smart home market to reach USD 622.59 billion by 2026. In fact, that’s barely scratching the surface if LG ThinQ as anything to say about it.

What makes the smart technology less daunting today is because now everyone has a smartphone. And through that smartphone, consumers can control all aspects of their connected devices from the bed, the car or the office. The fact that the LG ThinQ app has been downloaded over 30 million times is proof that there is an audience that’s hungry for the conveniences offered by smart products. But what conveniences are we talking about here?

Well, in one research study, LG ThinQ app users in the US said they were most satisfied with the app’s remote-control capabilities.² Although some smart appliances such as robot vacuums are able to do the work for you, there still isn’t a washing machine that can pick up dirty clothes off the floor or a refrigerator that stocks itself. But just being able to control and monitor the home ecosystem from any location brings a whole new dimension of convenience.

The LG ThinQ app was designed to seamlessly connect with the company’s AI-enabled products and services, giving the user full visibility and access to all compatible home appliances while home or on the go. One Korean user discovered LG ThinQ to be an invaluable solution for her laundry routine. “With remote control and monitoring, I can set the washing machine to finish according to my schedule, which means I’m always free to take the laundry out immediately. I no longer have to worry about smelly or wrinkled clothes,” the user said.³

Proactive Customer Care (PCC) and Smart Diagnosis expand the user experience and is another key way ThinQ has made customers’ lives easier. After self-diagnosing every connected appliance on the system, the ThinQ app alerts users and relays insightful suggestions and tips for maintaining their products’ peak performance, such as changing the filter at appropriate times. “It’s great to have the ThinQ app on hand to remind me when it’s time to replace the air purifier filter,” said one participant in the survey. Instead of having to call in and wait hours (or days) for a service technician to visit, PCC and Smart Diagnosis help users identify and resolve the issues themselves. One ThinQ user noted, “Thanks to the PCC feature I’m able to receive alerts on my parent’s appliances so I can do all the maintenance work for them.”

Beyond adding value, LG smart home solutions are delivering more environmentally friendly features to match the priorities of environmentally-conscious consumers. In fact, energy-saving capabilities are one of the top drivers for American consumers switching from conventional devices to smart home products, according to the survey.

On the LG ThinQ app, energy monitoring dashboards displaying monthly usage information are available for every appliance so that users can see where they might be able to save energy by modifying their behavior. “I can never remember if I shut the refrigerator door all the way or switched the TV off,” admitted an environmental advocate who participated in the research. “Being able to check and control all of this on my phone is a huge relief.”

Vacation mode is another proven way to minimize energy use in the home when empty, and features such as Active Save perform tasks like measuring refrigerator openings throughout the day so that refrigerators can switch from low to high power modes automatically, all according to when the user prefers using them.

The ThinQ app is constantly evolving to better meet consumer needs. Additional features to be introduced in the 1^st half of this year include Scan-To-Cook and Meal Kit orders which take the stress out of planning and preparing meals at home. Future features and services will focus on delivering the freedom and convenience that make LG customers’ lives measureably more comfortable than without ThinQ.

Learn more about LG’s smart appliances and the ThinQ app at www.LGThinQ.com.

# # #

1 https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/smart-home-market-101900
2 Kantar survey commissioned by LG surveyed 500 respondents with household incomes within the top 60 percentile in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.
3 Nielsen survey commissioned by LG interviewed 40 Korean IoT brand users between ages 20-44.

[On the Job] Digital Designers: Turning Imagination into Reality

One of LG’s digital designers using a VR headset and remote control to better understand a product’s ability to harmonize with the environment.

This is first installment of On the Job, where we put the spotlight on some of the talented and creative individuals in the global LG family. Today we take a look at the important role played by the company’s innovative digital designers.

As any creator or inventor will agree, taking an idea and turning it into something real is no small feat. When it comes to creating a new product, it is the role of the digital designer to translate the concepts, sketches and plans generated during the design process into a three-dimensional representation of what the finished article might look like. Giving virtual or physical form to something that does not yet exist can be just as challenging as it sounds and it’s the job of LG’s digital design professionals to turn imagination into reality.

While pen and paper will always have their place in design, digital designers normally utilize more advanced tools such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and 3D printers to give shape to projects. VR makes it possible to realistically simulate how a product will actually look and feel, offering valuable insights that looking at a drawing or inspecting a 3D-model on a computer screen simply cannot deliver. LG’s designers even create virtual environments based on real living spaces so that prior to a design being finalized, they can accurately assess the product’s ability to spatially and aesthetically harmonize with a range of different interior styles and configurations.

The selecting of colors, materials and finishes is a crucial part of the design process and can mean the difference between how a product is perceived and received by consumers. Digital designers provide valuable support in this area as well. The work of LG’s digital designers were instrumental in getting the green light to make LG Furniture Concept Appliances a reality.

The arrival of 3D printing has made the essential step of transforming a product’s design into a tangible model considerably easier for digital design pros. The ability to create three-dimensional drafts of products which can be touched as well as viewed helps LG’s designers identify areas that need further consideration faster than ever before. 3D printing not only reduces the need to rework designs, it also shortens the overall product development time, allowing LG to bring products to consumers faster.

As LG digital designer Lim Hwi-tae explains it, “The role of a digital designer is to create something out of nothing, to take an image or a world that exists only in the imagination and bring it to life using technologies such as VR and 3D printing.

“Our biggest goal as digital design practitioners is to shorten the amount of time it takes to bring new and improved products to market,” said Ryu Byoung-gi, another dedicated digital designer at LG. “The detailed digital visualizations we produce during the product development phase help to make that happen, and that’s something we’re all very proud of.”

By turning the imaginary into reality in less time, LG’s digital designers continue to make significant contributions to the realization of the company’s global, consumer-centric mission – to create innovation for a better life.

# # #

LG HVAC Technology Earns International Certifications for Indoor Air Quality

An office with Dual Vane Cassette emitting fresh, cool air from the ceiling

Cassette-type Ceiling Air-Handling System Helps Create
Healthier and Safer Indoor Environments

SEOUL, Mar. 25, 2021 — Commercial air conditioning technology from LG Electronics has garnered a number of certifications from trusted international organizations for its contributions to indoor air quality. Certifications from Intertek, TÜV Rheinland and UL awarded to LG DUAL Vane Cassette system are confirmation of the effectiveness of LG HVAC solutions in reducing indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.

The LG DUAL Vane Cassette is the world’s first HVAC solution to earn UL’s GREENGUARD Gold mark for low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. LG DUAL Vane Cassette was also recognized by Intertek for reducing the presence of harmful particles in indoor air.¹

Its outstanding air purification capabilities are possible thanks to LG Plasmaster™ Ionizer⁺ technology which emits over 3 million ion clusters to attract and carry away allergens and bacteria. For these reasons alone, LG DUAL Vane Cassette is the ideal option for use in schools and healthcare facilities where air quality is of utmost priority.

Another recognition comes courtesy of TÜV Rheinland which certified LG’s 5-step air purification system for effectively removing ultrafine dust, allergen and harmful bacteria from the air.² What’s more, LG DUAL Vane Cassette’s air-cleansing and allergen-removing capabilities are also certified by the British Allergy Foundation.

LG’s DUAL Vane Cassette is an effective and versatile system air conditioning product featuring two vanes that help to deliver strong airflow and wide, even coverage. With six different modes, users can tailor airflow direction and strength to any space or to suit their own individual preferences.

“These trusted certifications attest to the importance LG places on prioritizing its customers’ well-being,” said James Lee, executive vice president and head of LG’s Air Solution Business. “HVAC plays a central role in making indoor environments comfortable and safer for their occupants and LG will continue to deliver solutions that meet stringent international standards for healthy operation and effective performance.”

# # #

¹ Certified by Intertek for removing more than 99.9 percent of bacteria including Escherichia coli KCCM 11234, Staphylococcus aureus KCCM 40050 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa KCCM 11321.
² Certified by TÜV Rheinland for removing 99.9 percent of ultrafine dust measuring 50 nanometers in up to 35 minutes and 99.9 percent of ultrafine dust measuring 100 nanometers in up to 41 minutes. Also certified for reducing up to 99.9 percent of Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria in 60 minutes and up to 99.4 percent of Phi-X174 virus in 30 minutes. Tests conducted in chamber of 60 meters³.

Honoring the Talent of the Other Mozart

Although today’s women have made progress in gaining more freedoms and rights, there is still much room for improvement. In much of the developed world, women can work outside the home, vote in elections, decide if they want to have a family, even become president if they so choose. But the customs and standards of the 18th century prevented women from detaching themselves from the family and domestic functions that were imposed on them and from following their true dreams.

With Maria Anna Mozart, the older sister of the musician and composer Wolfgang Amadeus, it was no different. Since childhood, “Marianne” easily handled musical instruments and performed at concerts with her brother, where she gained prominence and was an inspiration for many. But as she grew older Maria Anna had to put her career aside to build a family, causing her great talent to be forgotten over time.

Aiming to amplify visibility around this important story of classical music, LG Electronics in Brazil brought Marianne’s work to the 21st century through technology. With access to 66 letters and 90 pages of the musician’s diary, the contents of her diary were transformed into musical notes, making it possible to hear what Anna wanted to express but was not able at that time.

A German interpreter was invited to record the reading of Marianne’s letters and diary. All texts found written in German were carefully analyzed so that the pronunciation tone became the song entitled Das Königreich Rücken, the imaginary kingdom between Marianne and Mozart.

The communication campaign was conducted by the agency Almap BBDO. The concept behind it was to honor the memory of Marianne and many other talent women who have been forgotten over time. It was a way for LG to celebrate the power of women on this International Women’s Day. Because of its originality, the campaign saw significant mentions in various media outlets covering marketing, lifestyle and technology.

A video of the musical composition is available on LG Brazil’s social network channels and on YouTube.

By LG Brazil Staff

# # #

Photo Credits: https://bit.ly/3eMLFFf

Happiness League Honors Superhero Teachers for Helping Students’ Mental Wellness

An image listing six capabilities of superhero teachers who deserve to be awarded by The Happiness League.

Announced by LG’s US office on the United Nation’s International Day of Happiness (March 20), The Happiness League is honoring “Superhero Teachers” from across the United States for their heroic efforts equipping students with social and emotional wellness skills needed to persevere and succeed in life. These champions of social-emotional learning have gone above and beyond to support today’s youth as the global pandemic, coupled with rising social and political discord, worsened a growing national mental health crisis.

America’s youth face an exceptionally high risk, with 63 percent of young adults reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^*

“This month marks a full year of social restrictions that have created a potentially dangerous tipping point for the mental health of America’s youth,” said Christine Ackerson, head of corporate social responsibility for LG Electronics USA, whose flagship CSR program, Life’s Good: Experience Happiness, is behind The Happiness League initiative.

Whether logging on to teach virtually or donning PPE in classrooms every day, teachers have had to reimagine how to engage their students and ensure safe and positive learning environments in the new environment. Teachers worked on the front lines and played a crucial role in maintaining consistency, normalcy and inspiration for America’s children. “They are truly superheroes providing our youth with the courage to endure and prosper, and deserve special recognition,” Ackerson said.

These educators inspire their students to embrace six sustainable happiness skills: gratitude, human connection, positive outlook, purpose, generosity and mindfulness.

Over the next several weeks, 50 Superhero Teachers across the United States that personify these “Super Skills” will be inducted into The Happiness League and honored by LG and its Experience Happiness partners – Be Strong, CASEL, Discovery Education, Inner Explorer and The Greater Good Science Center – for their dedication and inspiration to young people. Each teacher will be awarded an LG UltraWide computer monitor and receive a commemorative superhero cape highlighting their super skill.

The award-winning Life’s Good: Experience Happiness program already has reached more than 4 million students with a science-based curriculum developed to equip youth with the skills necessary to better cope with stress and anxiety, build resilience and support a life-long happiness mindset. Backed by decades of scientific research, Experience Happiness worked with experts in social-emotional learning, education and the science of happiness to identify the six happiness skills, which can be learned, practiced and strengthened.

To learn more about happiness super skills and meet America’s Superhero Teachers, click here.

By LG USA Staff

# # #

* “Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 14, 2020.
Photo Credits: https://www.lgexperiencehappiness.com/happinessleague

Virtual Spaces Offer a Fun (and Safe) Way for Brands to Engage

Two player avatars in popular Nintendo game 'Animal Crossing' pose with the LG OLED TV and 'OLED’ lettering, which have been terraformed into the pond behind them.

While the trend toward online engagement was well underway long before the pandemic, social distancing has forced many companies to look at how they could further improve customer engagement in an era when physical trade shows and retail showrooms were off-limits or cancelled altogether. As a result, the move toward a more virtual world has accelerated for many companies, with its share of successes as well as disappointments.

One success story is LG’s experience in leveraging a virtual destination beloved by millions of MZ Gen and other gamers around the world – Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Released in 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or ACNH for short, quickly became one of the most popular games on the Nintendo Switch platform, breaking the console game record for the most digital unit sales in a single month with five million purchases at launch, and to date has sold more than 31 million copies worldwide.^*

While enjoying the game’s colorful, cute, and oddly soothing form of escapism, players can drop by LG dream addresses OLED ISLAND and LIT ISLAND by using codes DA-7677-3136-5978 and DA-2218-2553-1949. LG is the first-ever consumer electronics company to have its own dream addresses in ACNH, both of which are open to any of the game’s residents.

On OLED ISLAND, visitors can experience a virtual lifestyle with LG OLED TV and learn about the product’s strengths and features while visiting special zones filled with LG OLED products, such as the home cinema zone and the Self-lit Gallery. Additionally, visitors can hunt for hidden treasure across the island – there are a total of 40 wrapped gifts to be found, each with a TV inside.

On LIT ISLAND, tourists will find a gaming zone, music studio, gym, soccer field, baseball field and a basketball court all featuring LG OLED TVs. The island offers other entertaining diversions as well, such as hidden pathways that can be explored with a variety of tools to be obtained to earn a special prize. Players can also head over to the Instagram account of LG’s virtual influencer, Reah Keem, to check out her fun-filled visit to the island.

Expanding upon VR and AR, LG Virtual Studio allows consumers to bring LG’s award-winning OLED TVs and innovative range of AV products into any room in one’s home virtually. With detailed, 360 degree rotatable renders of each model, visitors can clearly see how LG’s products would look in a given space and how much room they would take up. By simply visiting the LG Virtual Studio website, consumers can get a good sense of which options are best suited to their homes and lifestyles.

Another helpful virtual resource for consumers interested in buying or learning more about LG TV products is LG TV Simulator. Use this tool to see how much space every 2021 LG TV (including OLED, QNED Mini LED, NanoCell, UHD and FHD) requires and how they would look in different types of interiors. The simulator offers three living room sizes to choose from, six interior styles and every TV screen size and mount option to make the virtual experience as customizable and accurate as possible to the real experience.

For consumers more interested in upgrading their TVs than playing games, LG is employing virtual reality and augmented reality to help customers choose the right product even when visiting the showroom is off limits. Thanks to AR technology, the LG OLED Gallery Series TV site instantly turns one’s living room into a fully furnished space enabling customers to visualize how LG OLED Gallery TV would look in one of four themed environments – Gallery, Sports, Gaming and Cinema.

Whether it’s an online gaming world or an augmented reality site for shoppers, virtual environments are proving themselves to be immensely useful during these unprecedented times of social distancing. And with the pandemic speeding up the arrival of the metaverse – the alternate digital space where the physical and the virtual coexist – engaging fans and potential customers in virtual environments such as ACNH will only become more commonplace.

# # #

^* https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/index.html

[Why ESG] Because the Planet!

The title page of the ‘WHY ESG’ graphic news article with a preview of the stories to follow shown as keywords below.

LG Electronics is committed to taking systematic action across its diverse business portfolio to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from all of its operations by 2030. Expanding its eco-friendly businesses such as electric vehicle (EV) components and solutions as well as renewable energy business is a key part of this strategy. To better understand why LG and other forward-thinking companies are investing heavily in ESG, it’s important to first understand at what we’re facing.

Extreme weather conditions and climate-related natural disasters are on the rise all around the world. Reports warn that sea level will rise by 30 centimeters by 2100, with even more rise caused by land ice melt.¹ Unprecedented monsoon rains in Pakistan last year caused devastating floods in Karachi that left hundreds of thousands of people homeless. In Australia, bush fires raged for months due to soaring temperatures and drought whereas in California and the western half of the United States, more than 8,000 wildfires laid waste to the natural environment and drove thousands from their homes.

And it’s not only homo sapiens that are under attack. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 20 to 30 percent of all species will be at risk of extinction if the current average global temperature rises by 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius. A staggering 40 percent will become extinct if the temperature rises by an additional four degrees Celsius. With their habitats gone, many animals will simply be unable to survive, which won’t bode well for even for the species that manage to dodge extinction.

The world’s nations are working together to slow the advance of climate change, with key examples of this cooperation being the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the 2015 Paris Agreement. While the former involves mostly developed nations and focuses solely on the reduction of greenhouse gases, the latter is notable for bringing together both developed and developing nations and recognizing the need for financial support, technology transfer and operational transparency in the fight to reduce emissions globally.

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. The agreement calls upon its signers to gradually reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide to ultimately achieve carbon neutrality by the second half of the 21st century. Carbon neutrality is a state where carbon dioxide emissions are effectively net zero, meaning the amount of carbon emitted is equal to that removed from the atmosphere. This will ultimately require the phasing out of fossil fuels and converting to 100 percent renewable and highly efficient energy sources.

Nations including Denmark, England, France, Hungary, New Zealand and Sweden have already enacted laws targeting the goal of carbon neutrality. Other developed countries such as the US, China and Japan, have not yet enacted relevant legislation but have announced specific goals pertaining to carbon neutrality, while South Korea’s leaders have outlined a plan to become net zero by 2050.

Not only nations but global corporations are also concerned about the environmental impact of their operations, as are their customers. Of the US-based companies that participated in the Deloitte Resource 2020 Study, about 75 percent reported that their customers expected renewable energy sources to account for a certain percentage of all business-related electricity usage. The study also found that approximately 77 percent of companies are now engaged in actively promoting the use of renewable energy, a trend that is expected to continue and grow in the coming years. More companies today are acknowledging that in order to secure long-term business viability and grow brand loyalty, it is essential to pursue a low-carbon future.

For its part, LG is growing its renewable energy business and has established 6.7MW PV power-generation facilities in South Korea, generating a combined 8,832MWh of solar energy in 2019 alone. That same year, LG started mass-producing the LG Solar Car roof for EVs, which can charge a vehicle’s battery using collected solar energy. LG is also contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases through solutions that increase the mileage of electric and hybrid vehicles, and also via a wide range of residential and commercial solar power products.

In the process of broadening its portfolio to embrace a more eco-friendly business, LG Electronics expects to cut greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing by 50 percent compared to 2017 by the end of 2030. LG Carbon Fund was established in 2017 to support the development of GHG-reducing technologies and solutions through the virtual cycle concept wherein all profits from LG Carbon Fund investments are funneled back into the effort to reduce greenhouse gases. LG is also an active participant in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project, which seeks to curb harmful emissions through investing technology and capital in developing countries.

For its efforts, Corporate Knights’ recent 2021 Carbon Clean 200 report ranked LG 13^th among publicly traded companies with the highest level of eco-friendly management based on various factors such as reduction of carbon emissions during production of goods and services, usage of eco-friendly materials and conversion to alternative energy.² LG was praised for its efforts in producing home appliances with first-class energy-efficiency ratings.

The next installment of this ESG series will take a look at LG’s wide ranging and innovative efforts to create more environmentally-compatible consumer and commercial products.

# # #

¹https://www.climateaction.org/news/warming-oceans-to-raise-sea-levels-30cm-by-2100-study-finds
²https://www.corporateknights.com/reports/2021-clean-200/clean-200-16136460

[Why ESG] Because the Planet!

Laying the Foundation for More Inclusive and Equitable Education in Africa

Students of Machakos School for the Deaf expressing their gratitude to benefactors for providing them with a better educational environment through dance.

Sadly, in 2021 there are still millions of children worldwide who don’t have access to quality education. Like many developing countries around the world, Kenya is working hard to address this situation and meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 on the delivery of an inclusive and equitable education for its people. To provide its youth with the learning opportunities they deserve, a key component of Kenya’s efforts is renovating and expanding existing infrastructure.

In Machakos County, about 60 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, the LG team in Kenya is supporting this worthy goal by helping to improve learning facilities at several local schools, including the Machakos School for the Deaf and the Kyumbi Primary School.

LG is working in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Kenya and the county government of Machakos to provide students in the county with a learning environment that can help them reach their full potential. From boosting students’ health and attendance to increasing academic achievement and providing a greater sense of self-worth for both students and teaching staff, improving a school’s facilities has been shown to have a number of positive effects.

To better serve its 225 hearing-impaired students, the Machakos School for the Deaf identified the need for a new library as well as a significant upgrade to its existing water borehole and plumbing. As a key donor, LG Kenya participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the library last month. During the event, students thanked benefactors with enthusiastic songs and dance and participated in a tree planting to enhance the school’s grounds.

LG Kenya is also contributing toward the construction of two new toilet blocks and donating several home appliances including refrigerators for the school’s kitchen and washing machines and dryers to keep students’ uniforms clean.

“The pandemic has increased the need for safe, resilient and healthy communities, and schools are a large part of that equation,” said Habitat for Humanity Kenya spokesperson Ruth Odera at the ceremony. “We are glad to contribute towards meeting this need in Machakos County through providing quality buildings and improved access to water and sanitation at the Machakos School for the Deaf.”

Addressing ceremony attendees, LG Electronics Managing Director for East and Central Africa, Kim Sa-nyoung, added, “LG believes strongly in giving back to the community and making life better. This project is also important to us since it aids Kenya’s overall efforts to meet the United Nations’ SDG4 and create fair and equal learning opportunities for all.”

LG Kenya is also part of an initiative benefitting 400 early learners at Kyumbi Primary School in Machakos County. In operation since December, the project involves the construction of restrooms, classrooms, kitchens and various other facilities to improve learning outcomes. At an event to mark the project’s launch, Father Joseph Mutuku cut the ceremonial ribbon and blessed the construction site on behalf the school’s official sponsor, St. Christopher Catholic Parish Kyumbi.

The work at Machakos School for the Deaf and Kyumbi Primary School is set to be concluded by March this year, with all infrastructure fully completed and ready to support the next generation in their learning journey. Through forging partnerships and fostering trust with the local community, government and like-minded organizations, LG is making a difference today, and helping to pave the way for a better tomorrow.

By LG Kenya Staff

# # #

More Local Legends Inspiring Others Down Under

A family of four walking hand-in-hand through an Australian forest that has been ravaged by one of last year’s bush fires.

Entering 2021 has given Australians new hope as they recover from a year that most might want to delete from memory. However, others would urge these people not to forget a year that still had so much good on display, especially down under where Aussies were determined to pull together and do what it takes to make life better for its people, every single day.

To honor those staring directly in the face of difficult times, LG kicked off its LG Local Legends (#LGLocalLegends) program last May. Since then, LG has crowned 24 local legends who have been doing their bit and more for local communities to make lives that bit easier for so many around them.

LG Electronics in Australia has awarded each winner’s selflessness with LG home prize packages that let them live life more easily through the company’s convenient and connected devices. Some of their stories were featured on the company’s global newsroom to promote and inspire similar acts of kindness among people of other nations.

With so many outstanding gestures and noble actions made among the 2020 LG Local Legends winners it wasn’t hard to find more individuals to highlight. Let’s meet three more from this special group of people almost a year on from its creation.

EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN

Merissa Forsyth was named an admirable LG Local Legend for her efforts in empowering young girls to be comfortable and confident in their own bodies through her not-for-profit Pretty Foundation.

Close to nine years ago she had her eureka moment and quit her corporate job to focus on campaigns empowering women and girls alike. And after endless research and meetings with experts she discovered that in Australia, 38 percent of 4-year-old girls are dissatisfied with their bodies, 34 percent of 5-year-old girls reported an intention to diet and 68 percent of 5- to 8-year-old children reported being teased for their appearance,^* which gave birth to the Pretty Foundation – a charity focused on early education and prevention.

“Why wait for girls to become women before celebrating them?” said Merissa. With this in mind, she felt it was her duty to form the Pretty Inspirational Awards, which coincide with International Women’s Day, to celebrate the grand achievements of girls under 18 years of age. These inspiring girls were given the spotlight as role models for the younger generation thanks to their strong character, amazing skills and impressive abilities across various fields.

RESCUER OF MISSING AUSSIES

Adele Jago deservedly claimed her LG Local Legend status after dedicating thousands of hours every year searching for missing persons, such as those lost in the Australian bush or misplaced due to natural or man-made disasters. Through her passion and dedication to protecting and rescuing others, she founded a not-for-profit organization, Search Dogs Sydney, which utilizes a dedicated team of qualified volunteers that train canines to aid the NSW police department in the search for missing or lost people.

“Approximately 38,000 people go missing in Australia every year, and more than 2,600 have been missing for a while,” said Adele. “Lowering these statistics is what motivates me every day.” In the future, she hopes to have teams like Search Dogs Sydney all over NSW that can be deployed as soon as someone is reported missing.

LIFEGUARD FOR QUEENSLAND’S BEACHES

Inspired by his father’s involvement in lifesaving rescue teams, Scott Collins has dedicated 36 years of his life to keeping Queensland’s beaches safe. As a volunteer for the non-profit organization Surf Life Saving Australia, the largest volunteer movement of its kind and Australia’s leading coastal water safety, drowning prevention and rescue authority, Scott was more than qualified to be an LG Local Legend.

National coastal safety is crucial in keeping Australians and tourists safe around some of the nation’s most dangerous parts. Between 2018 to 2019 alone, there were 122 coastal drownings which is above the past 15-year average. Lowering this heartbreaking statistic is what motivates Scott and his team to ensure appropriate educational programs and lifesaving services are in place to address Australia’s issues when it comes to coastal safety.

The LG Local Legends campaign brings LG Australia so much closer to local consumers, and displays the team’s unwavering support for those sharing its commitment to making life better. Click here to learn more about the LG Local Legends recognized in 2020.

By LG Australia Staff

# # #

* Source: https://prettyfoundation.org/why-pretty

Celebrating and Connecting with Sports Fans in the Great White North

A family of four spending quality time together with the phrase ‘Share Your #Life’s good moment’ overlapping.

The excitement of a live sporting event with devoted fans hanging onto the edge of their seats is unmatched in terms of its energy. But with fans nowadays cheering from their living rooms instead of an arena or stadium, the passion of a crowd coming together to celebrate a goal, a basket, or a win was missing. This was the challenge that the LG team in Canada set for itself – to connect with sports fans to celebrate the moments that make life good, wherever they are, whomever they’re with.

As part of its long-standing partnership with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), LG is launching a new campaign called #LifesGoodMoment dedicated to Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors fans. Knowing the intense emotional connection live sports can create, LG is seeking to build a similar sense of community for fans outside the arena. The season-long #LifesGoodMoment campaign recognizes the moments – great or small – that live sports can create. However you make them, and whoever you are with, it is these moments that make Life Good.

“Naturally we recognize that conveying the LG “Life’s Good” brand vision can be a delicate matter at this time,” said Robin Powell, head of marketing at LG Canada. “We felt it was time to shift our efforts from marketing our partnership with MLSE, to using our sponsorship platform to shine a light on the power of the human spirit and the many ways that people continue to create moments that celebrate the importance of community.”

The campaign features a six-episode content series that shares personal stories from dedicated Leafs and Raptors fans who were nominated for special recognition for their contributions to their local communities. Raptors shooting guard Norman Powell and Toronto Maple Leafs alumnus Wendel Clark are featured throughout the series and are instrumental in creating Life’s Good moments for these special award recipients.

“This year’s challenges brought us a unique opportunity to redirect some of LG’s sponsorship investment into creating special Life’s Good moments for some of our most selfless fans,” said Galen Davies, senior director for global partnerships at MLSE. “We are proud to work with LG to create a program where fans could nominate community heroes who continue to deserve recognition in these uncertain times.”

The #LifesGoodMoment campaign extends throughout the Leafs and Raptors seasons in 2021. A launch video kicks off the campaign followed by a content series that can be seen live on LG, Leafs and Raptors social platforms. Fans can share their own #LifesGoodMoment in the social content for a chance to win an LG Connected Home.^*

Creative agency Forsman and Bodenfors developed the insight and creative for the campaign while MLSE created and produced the content series. Media agency PHD is responsible for the paid social and digital campaign while social agency Reprise works with social media influencers to create additional content and execute the contest. Public relations efforts are managed by GCI Canada’s LG-One team.

To see more of #LifesGoodMoment campaign, click here and here.

LG and MLSE also partnered on an outdoor screen installation during the Maple Leafs and Raptors season-openers in the fall of 2019. The LED screen is 62 feet by 35 feet, a full 37 percent larger than the old screen, which gives Toronto sports fans a superior viewing experience.

The installation of the LG outdoor LED screen is part of the reimagination of Maple Leaf Square, which takes place over the next several years and brings technological and infrastructure innovations to create a world-class fan experience inside and outside the arena. As the exclusive Consumer Electronics Partner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, LG is helping power a new fan experience through the latest sign and display innovations at Scotiabank Arena.

By LG Canada Staff

# # #

* One Grand Prize consisting of LG Connected Home product suite, approximate retail value of CAD 10,000. Complete contest details here and here.

LG and DXC Luxoft Launch Joint Venture Alluto

A poster for the Alluto launch event scheduled for 8:00am PDT on March 15th, 2021.

Partners Outline Joint Vision to Enable Digital,
Consumer-grade Experiences in Automotive

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Mar. 11, 2021 — LG Electronics (066570: KS) and Luxoft, a DXC Technology Company (NYSE: DXC), today announced the launch of their joint venture aimed at advancing the companies’ shared vision at enabling digital, consumer-grade experiences in automotive. Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Alluto will drive the commercialization of production-ready digital cockpit, in-vehicle infotainment, passenger-seat entertainment (PSE) and ride-hailing systems based on the webOS Auto platform. The official Alluto launch event will take place online on March 15, 08:00 PDT at www.alluto.io.

webOS Auto 2.0 offers access to a growing number of in-vehicle and connected services and brings greater control and convenience through enhanced head unit functionality. Unique in-vehicle features and functionality incorporate the essential components – such as multimedia processing, multi-display control, connectivity and security – to offer improved comfort and convenience to passengers and drivers. As a highly customizable and scalable platform, webOS Auto enables OEMs to create their own user experience.

“With Alluto, carmakers can now tap into the vibrant webOS ecosystem from the edge to cloud and have a new, powerful alternative to innovate and differentiate future mobility experiences,” said Dr. I.P. Park, president and CTO of LG Electronics. “LG will continue to strengthen the webOS Auto ecosystem through strategic cooperation with diverse global technology companies.”

“webOS Auto is not only an attractive platform but also a blueprint for the complete digital vehicle,” said Dmitry Loschinin, executive vice president, DXC Technology, and president and CEO, Luxoft. “DXC Luxoft will lead the deployment of webOS Auto platform in production-ready systems in automotive by contributing its global delivery network and its engineering at-scale delivery organization.”

“Combining webOS with the industry leading technology of Luxoft and DXC represents an unprecedented offering and resource for the automotive market,” said Adam Woolway, CEO of Alluto. “With webOS Auto 2.0, Alluto is paving the road to the future by bringing the experiences from the living room to the car.”

# # #

LG Wins Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against TCL in Germany

In One of Three Lawsuits, German Court Rules in favor of LG, Finds LG’s standard
essential patent infringed

SEOUL, Mar. 9, 2021 — LG Electronics (LG) has won a patent infringement lawsuit against TCL Communication Technology Limited and two European affiliated entities (TCL).

Last week the Mannheim Regional Court in Germany ruled in favor of LG in a lawsuit the company filed against TCL in November 2019. The ruling found that TCL had infringed on claims in LG’s standard essential patent EP 2 627 146 B1 in Germany covering specific LTE technology. Following the court’s judgment, LG is taking immediate steps to stop TCL from the unlawful use of LG’s technology without license. TCL can appeal the judgment and a nullity action against the patent by TCL is pending at the German Federal Patent Court.

Of the two remaining lawsuits filed by LG against TCL, one took place on March 2 while the third lawsuit will be heard in May.

“Our patented technologies are the fruit of continuous research and development and are central to our ongoing competitiveness in the industry and what motivates our employees to think creatively,” said Cho Hwi-jae, vice president and head of LG’s Intellectual Property Center. “We believe it is our responsibility to vigorously protect our intellectual property against any and all unauthorized uses.”

LG is a global technological leader in the mobile communications field and possesses one of the largest portfolios of standard essential patents in the field. According to TechIPm, a professional intellectual property research and consulting firm, LG ranked first globally for five consecutive years (2012 to 2016) in the 4G (LTE/LTE-A) standard essential patent category. And Germany-based market intelligence company IPlytics recently ranked LG third globally in 5G standard essential patent category with over 3,700 patent families.

# # #

[Executive Corner] Bringing the Future to Life with “All for One” Solutions

Silas Choi, head of the B2B Solutions Business Division, describing the features of LG ThinQ Home that make it the perfect futuristic integrated home.

Imagine a home where the facial recognition-equipped front door automatically opens to welcome you inside, followed by an air shower that blows away germs and viruses from the outside world that may have settled on your skin, hair or clothing. As you enter each room, your presence is detected and the lighting and temperature intelligently adjusted to your preferences. You can even open the curtains to take in the view beyond your window with a simple voice command from across the room via AI speakers.

Behold, the home of the future. And thanks to LG Electronics’ innovative solutions, the smart home of the future is a reality in the LG ThinQ Home in a suburb of Seoul here in South Korea.

The integrated one-step solutions that are employed throughout LG ThinQ Home are a key element of our Business Solutions Company, which develops unique All for One solutions that bring together a broad range of products and services from LG and partners via LG’s integrated home gateway for the sole benefit of the client – the one in the company’s All for One philosophy. LG’s integrated solutions are able to meet several different needs simultaneously and through the application of intelligent technologies, we’re also able to learn from the client to continuously improve their quality of life.

Customer value is derived from our ability to seamlessly integrate complex and diverse products, systems and technologies into a cohesive whole, delivering a completely new, more convenient user experience. Through this integration, residents in an LG-equipped home can enjoy convenient control of various functions such as the security system and outdoor cameras as well as LG’s ThinQ-enabled home appliances via the ThinQ app, again available through LG’s integrated home gateway.

As demonstrated throughout LG ThinQ Home is LG’s commitment to sustainability and application of sophisticated smart solutions to enhance energy efficiency. LG not only develops products that minimize energy consumption, we also provide solutions to collect and store renewable energy from sources such as sunlight. This allows us to seamlessly weave together a variety of environment friendly products and systems to reduce a home’s energy footprint and monthly utility bills.

Designed around the three core values of security, convenience and entertainment and brought to life by LG’s comprehensive solutions, LG ThinQ Home presents an altogether more satisfying and streamlined vision of modern home life. Because security is such an important part of home safety, LG’s facial recognition system makes sure that only authorized persons can gain access. Automated systems take care of a significant amount of home and appliance management, creating more time and energy to enjoy the entertainment provided by our latest smart TVs and audio products.

Such enjoyment is enhanced by the fact that personalized settings travel with each family member as he or she moves from one room to another. In LG ThinQ Home, 12 advanced and strategically placed detectors can identify individuals by their body dimensions and adjust the settings of a room, such as the air conditioner or lighting, to create the most personal of spaces.

Looking ahead, LG ThinQ Home will eventually be able to “read” a person’s mood through smart wearable devices and recommend the most appropriate content to watch on an LG TV or the best music to play on LG smart speakers or soundbars. Audio and video content can also be enjoyed on any of the five smart mirrors installed throughout the LG ThinQ Home. As family members go about their morning routines in the bathroom or kitchen, they can catch up on the latest news and sports highlights or listen to their favorite tunes.

In addition to making the home a better place, LG’s B2B Solutions Business Division is also focusing on providing innovative products for the healthcare sector. As one of the pillars of the company, the hospital solutions business is expected to be a significant growth engine in the current rapidly aging population. The goal of the business is to provide a variety of solutions, such as professional healthcare and non-face-to-face telemedicine care, so that medical services can center on prevention rather than the existing diagnosis and treatment approach to enhance the quality of senior care.

Our innovative medical imaging solutions are optimized for various medical settings with professional monitors enhanced for clinical review, diagnosis and surgery as well as digital X-ray detectors. And LG’s holistic system solutions for hospitals such as ventilations and energy management help maintain a pleasant environment for even safer patient care.

As LG ThinQ Home demonstrates, the integrated intelligent home isn’t years or decades away, it’s here now and LG’s growing portfolio of solutions is already capable of making the daily lives more comfortable, efficient and safe so we can deliver on the promise of a better life today.

By Silas Choi, Head of B2B Solution Business Division

# # #

[Why ESG] Not Just for Investors Anymore

Three cubes displaying letters from the acronym ESG stand on top of a handmade picture of the world.

ESG investments have gained considerable traction and attention in recent years. In fact, ESG-related investments accounted for about one-quarter of all the money that flowed into U.S. stocks and bond mutual funds in 2020, a huge increase from ESG’s one percent share just 6 years earlier.¹ Globally, sustainable investment now tops USD 30 trillion, up 68 percent since 2014 and tenfold since 2004.²

What’s apparent is that ESG is much more than a fad or a passing trend.

ESG, which is short for environmental, social and governance, can be traced all the way back to 2006, when former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who encouraged major financial institutions to join the initiative to integrate ESG into capital markets within the framework of the UN Global Compact.³ But ESG is only becoming mainstream now, driven by united demand from a younger generation of employees, investors and customers.

Today’s consumers want to know that the companies they buy from are factoring environmental considerations into their products, services and the way they operate. They want to know if a company genuinely supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and if it is being run responsibly and ethically. In short, customers want to support companies that share their values, not just make products and provide services.

Why is ESG important?
For investors, it used to be that financial factors were all that mattered when deciding to put money into a particular company or fund. But research has shown that companies that pay attention to environmental, social, and governance concerns do not experience a drag on value creation – in fact, strong ESG performance correlates with higher equity returns and a reduction in downside risk. Consistent with these findings, the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) encourages investors to seriously consider ESG issues and indicators when evaluating their portfolios.

The importance of ESG ratings and ESG-related activities as criteria for investment decisions has been pointed out by many respected voices in the sector. In September 2020, Larry Fink, CEO of the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, declared that he would no longer invest in companies that perform poorly in key ESG measurements. In some countries such as Canada, Germany and Sweden, ESG reporting is mandatory for corporations and is expected to soon become standard procedure in more markets around the globe.

The current pandemic has also changed many aspects of how the public thinks. Consumers and investors are now voicing greater concern for doing “the right thing,” and favoring companies and brands that share their aspirations to make the world a better place. This “virtuous cycle” consists of the following stages: (1) positive ESG actions and management, (2) increased customer loyalty, (3) increased investments due to inflow of investment funds, (4) boost in corporate value and (5) execution of more diverse ESG activities.

What’s the difference between CSR and ESG?
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be viewed as the starting point for ESG. But while CSR aims to make a business accountable, ESG makes its efforts measurable. If CSR is a way for organizations to promote their positive activities as a marketing tool, ESG is a way for businesses to measure the real sustainable and societal impact of their actions whether it’s gallons of water they’ve conserved or how much plastic they’ve recycled.

What are LG’s ESG priorities?
LG has set for itself several mid- to long-term goals for sustainability which it plans to achieve through a broad range of ESG initiatives. Among these targets, the main three are to achieve a zero carbon and circular economy, to promote intelligent lifestyles and to create a better society. According to LG’s CFO Bae Doo-yong, increasing the recycling rate of materials used in manufacturing without negatively affecting the quality and reliability of products is one key component to achieving a circular economy.

For its initiatives, LG has been recognized for the past seven years and Industry Leader for two consecutive years on the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), widely used to measure companies’ commitment to good ESG management. DJSI considers financial performance, governance, environmental friendliness, labor-management relations, human rights and gender equality criteria from 2,500 global companies representing more than 60 different industries.

LG provides a comprehensive report of its ESG initiatives and will continue to operate transparently and ethically as it pursues its ultimate goal of making life better for all.

# # #

¹ https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/11/sustainable-investment-funds-more-than-doubled-in-2020-.html
² Global Sustainable Investment Review 2018, Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, 2018, gsi-alliance.org.
³ https://www.un.org/press/en/2006/sg2111.doc.htm

LG Newsroom