LG's 30 Years in India... Koo Kwang-mo: "Now Is the Golden Time to Become No.1"

First Visit to India Since Inauguration, March 24-27
Inspected Value Chain Across Bengaluru and New Delhi
LG Entered Indian Market by Establishing Software Research Center in 1996
Emphasized "Differentiation Is Necessary" Amid Intensifying Local Competition
Urged, "Let Us Achieve a Leap Forward for the Next 30 Years"

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo visited the company's Indian operations for the first time since his inauguration, encouraging local employees by stating, "Differentiation is extremely important, and now is the golden time for sustainable number one." Chairman Koo's visit to India was part of on-site activities marking LG's 30 years of entry into the Indian market this year.

Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Corporation (third from the left), is visiting the LG Electronics Noida manufacturing plant in New Delhi, India, to observe the air conditioner production process. Photo by LG Group

According to LG Group on the 4th, Chairman Koo visited Bengaluru, known as the Silicon Valley of India, and the capital New Delhi from March 24 to 27 (local time) to assess the competitiveness across the entire value chain, including research and development (R&D), production, and distribution.

Chairman Koo's trip to India is interpreted as an effort to examine the Indian market, whose importance is growing amid rapid changes in the global market, and to further solidify the group's presence locally. India has the largest population in the world (approximately 1.45 billion) and ranks fifth in the world in gross domestic product (GDP). Notably, about 40% of the total population, or 600 million people, are consumers under the age of 25, indicating that the main consumer demographic is expected to expand over the next 20 years. Global credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has projected that India will rise to become the world's third-largest economy by 2030. LG took its first step into the Indian market by establishing a software research center in Bengaluru in 1996. Since then, major affiliates such as LG Chem (1996), LG Electronics (1997), and LG Energy Solution (2023) have entered and are actively operating in the market.

On the first day of his visit, Chairman Koo carefully reviewed the changing conditions of the Indian market and production strategy at LG Electronics' Noida manufacturing plant in New Delhi. He pointed out that India is attracting attention as a land of opportunity not only for LG but also for many global companies, and that competition in the local market will intensify in the future, urging local employees to prepare thoroughly. He emphasized, "The next few years are crucial in determining how we will differentiate ourselves to surpass competing companies in the Indian market," adding, "Now, when we are somewhat ahead, is the golden time for sustainable number one." He further encouraged, "Let us achieve a leap forward for the next 30 years based on the understanding of customers and a solid market position we have built so far."

Chairman Koo inspected production lines for home appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, requesting the preparation and realization of differentiation strategies from Chinese companies and ways to become a sustainable number one. He also visited LG brand shops and retail stores such as Reliance in downtown New Delhi, examining products reflecting local customer needs, such as washing machines that manage the fabric of sarees, which Indian women wear as everyday clothing.

Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Corporation (center front row), is inspecting the production line at the LG Electronics Noida manufacturing plant located in New Delhi, India. Photo by LG Group

Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Corporation (fourth from the left), is talking with researchers at the LG Software Research Center in Bengaluru, India. Photo by LG Group

Chairman Koo also visited the software research center operated by LG Soft India in Bengaluru. It was reported that he showed great interest in the strengths of the Indian information technology (IT) ecosystem and its abundant R&D talent. The research center employs about 2,000 local developers working on webOS platforms, automotive solutions, next-generation software, and more. Chairman Koo met with researchers and said, "India's role and importance will grow further in responding to accelerating software technology innovation and securing excellent R&D talent," adding, "It is important to clearly set the group's global R&D direction and have a strong will to achieve it for future software differentiated competitiveness."

After completing his trip to India, Chairman Koo immediately moved to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to check on business operations in the Middle East and Africa. LG entered the local market by establishing an LG Electronics branch in Dubai in 1982. Currently, LG operates 12 subsidiaries in the Middle East and Africa region, mainly focused on sales, production, and services centered on LG Electronics. Chairman Koo urged, "The Middle East and Africa region is a complex and challenging market, but let us start building entry barriers now and prepare core competencies one by one to make it one of the key pillars of future growth."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.