LG touch watch

In 2006, LG recorded a brand growth of 14%.^[3] Now the world's largest plasma panel manufacturer,^[4] its affiliate, LG Display, is one of the largest manufacturers of liquid crystal displays. Also in 2006, the company's mobile phone division, LG Mobile, marketed the LG Chocolate phone, changing the company's image of the maker of thick 3G phones. It now focuses on the design and marketing of phones such as the LG Shine, the LG Glimmer and LG Prada (KE850). As a result, the company was picked as "The Design Team of the Year" by the Red Dot Design Award in 2006~2007 and is often called the "New Apple" in the industry and online communities.

Billboards at Dundas Square in Toronto, Canada, featuring an LG advertisement.

LG's 3G touch watch mobile phone

Company history

The company was originally established in 1958 as GoldStar, producing radios, TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners.^[5] The LG Group was a merger of two Korean companies, Lucky (from the Korean "Nakhui") and GoldStar, from which the abbreviation of LG was derived. The current "Life's Good" slogan is a backronym. Before the corporate name change to LG, household products were sold under the brand name of Lucky, while electronic products were sold under the brand name of GoldStar (Hangul:금성). In January 2009 LG was able to buy the domain name, LG.com, placing it among the companies who own their two letter brand's domain name.^[6]

In 1994 GoldStar gained sponsorship from The 3DO Company to make the first 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. In 1995, GoldStar was renamed LG Electronics, and acquired Zenith Electronics of the United States. LG Solar Energy is a subsidiary formed in 2007 to allow LG Chem to supply polysilicon to LG Electronics for production of solar cells. In 2008, LG took its first dive into the solar-panel manufacturing pool, as it announced a preliminary deal to form a joint venture with Conergy. Under the deal, set to be completed by year's end, LG would acquire a 75 percent stake in Conergy's Frankfurt solar-panel plant.^[7] LG has produced camcorders called ARTCAM and DSLRs ^[8]

Sponsorship

LG Electronics sponsored the English football club Leicester City and Weyside Rovers (Guildford) from 2000 until 2002. LG Electronics currently sponsors the English football clubs Fulham F.C deals pulled together at that time by the ex-Marketing Director John Bernard, who now works for the competition, Sony Ericsson. LG also sponsor the Fremantle Football Club (an Australian Football League team) , the Australian National Rugby League club Cronulla Sharks and the Argentinian club Boca Juniors.

During the period 2001-2003 the company sponsored the snooker Grand Prix. During these years the tournament was known as the LG Cup.

LG now also sponsors London Fashion Week and the LG Arena in Birmingham.^[9]

In 2008 LG became sponsors of the Extreme Sport 'FSO4 Freeze' festival^[10] and in January 2009 LG became a Global Partner and Technology Partner of Formula One.