LG opens food science lab in Changwon

An LG Electronics researcher takes food out of the oven after testing the kitchen appliance at the firm's food science research lab in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in this photo provided by the firm, Tuesday. / Courtesy of LG Electronics

By Baek Byung-yeul

LG Electronics opened a food science research lab in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, to develop more advanced refrigerators, ovens and other kitchen appliances, the company said Tuesday.

LG said its researchers specializing in food science will conduct studies of how to keep food fresh, ferment kimchi, and various cooking methods using its kitchen appliances.

The company said its food lab is built in a 630-square-meter site of the firm's home appliance manufacturing base.

LG said it will also conduct a study together with experts from government agencies such as the Rural Development Administration, the World Institute of Kimchi, the Korea Food Research Institute and university professors from Seoul National University and Konkuk University.

The firm said it will apply technologies developed in the lab to its kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, kimchi refrigerators, ovens and electric stoves.

LG has been operating a water science research lab in Changwon since February to examine water quality. The firm also opened another lab in October for studying air quality at its R&D center in Seoul.

With the opening of the food lab, LG now has research organizations specializing in studying water, air and food. “These labs represent LG's vision to offer the best healthcare products to customers,” an LG official said.

LG has been a leading home appliance company here as it rolled out the country's first refrigerator in 1965 and the world's first kimchi refrigerator in 1984.

“Following the establishment of water and air science research labs, LG will keep investing in food science research in order to provide distinguished service to our customers,” said Song Dae-hyun, head of LG's home appliance & air solution division.