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| A Samsung Electronics employee introduces the firm's QLED 8K TV to Indian reporters during a media event at a shopping mall in New Delhi, India, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics |
By Baek Byung-yeul
Samsung Electronics is stepping up to sell more high-priced, premium home appliances in India and other emerging markets, while LG Electronics is targeting Japanese consumers amid improving household spending in the world's third-largest economy, companies said.
While the two Korean tech giants have been concentrating on Europe, North America and Korea where consumers can easily afford their costly appliances, company officials said they are trying to create new opportunities in countries like India and Japan whose consumers are fond of domestic brands.
Samsung said it held a launching event for its QLED 8K TV at DLF Emporio, a luxury shopping mall in New Delhi, Tuesday.
Samsung has sold its 8K TV in 10 countries but it plans to expand the number of available countries to 60 within 2019 because there will be growing demand for the high-resolution TVs in emerging countries such as India, as well as Latin American and Middle Eastern countries.
A Samsung official said the firm expects its 8K TVs, which have four times the resolution of 4K TVs, will be in demand there.
"India has more than 1.3 billion people and a growing number of customers there are seeking to buy premium TVs. Before we officially launched our QLED 8K TVs, we received a lot of inquiries in India about purchasing and pricing of our TVs," the official said.
"Samsung has topped the Indian TV market for 13 consecutive years and the QLED 8K TVs will help us continue to lead the market."
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| An LG Electronics employee explains the functions of the firm's dryer to visitors during a showcase event at the National Art Center in Tokyo, Tuesday. / Courtesy of LG Electronics |
LG also rolled out home appliances under its Signature premium brand in Japan. It held a launching event at the National Art Center in Tokyo, Tuesday, inviting reporters and high-profile figures.
LG said it will sell refrigerators, washing machines and TVs under the Signature brand. "Japanese consumers are loyal to domestic brands in home appliances. Using our Signature brand, we will try to increase the market power of our home appliance products there," an LG official said.
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