LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo, center, speaks at LG’s internal technology exhibition in Daejeon, Thursday. LG Uplus CEO Lee Sang-chul, left, is seen with LG Electronics Chief Technology Officer Ahn Seung-kwon. / Courtesy of LG Group

By Kim Yoo-chul

LG Group Chairman Koo Bon-moo Thursday has asked his top lieutenants to release highly-advanced, ultra-thin televisions ahead of LG Electronics’ internal schedule.

``LG should enjoy more first-mover advantages in the rising organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV area. I want to see LG’s fine-tuned OLED TVs as early as possible,’’ Koo told senior executives group affiliates at an internal event in Daejeon, South Chungcheong Province.

LG Electronics, the group’s flagship, is turning to OLED technology to effectively expand during the transition from analog to digital televisions. The conglomerates’ top executives believe that will help it better compete with long-time rival Samsung Electronics.

LG Electronics is planning to release a 55-inch OLED TV sometime in the latter half of this year, according to company spokesman Yoon Won-il.

But Yoon declined to give any further details such as the timing of its release.

Koo also asked flat-screen making affiliate LG Display to speed up the development of OLED panels using cost-cutting technologies to better respond to market demand.

Design was also a top concern for the chairman during the event, according to group spokeswoman Kim Min-jeong. ``After thorough reviews of LG Electronics’ Optimus smartphone and Optiums Vu, Koo ordered more investment for product design,’’ she said.

Some 80 in-house technologies from 10 affiliates including LG Electronics, LG Display, LG Chem and LG Uplus were exhibited at the private event.

Koo cited technicians who helped LG develop its in-house film-based 3D TV technology, which is also supported by Sony, Panasonic, Chinese TV makers.

``Technology is everything. If we need technology to produce valued products, then LG should be moving for an active collaboration with other companies,’’ said Koo.