The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Tue, April 20, 2021 | 22:18
IT
LG turns bold under new chairman
Posted : 2019-09-10 16:54
Updated : 2019-09-11 09:23
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Nam Hyun-woo

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo
LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo
LG Group is taking an increasingly bold stance in dealing with its rivals under the leadership of Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, according to industry officials, Tuesday.

In the past, Korea's fourth-largest conglomerate steered clear of controversies and avoided causing problems even if its interests were undermined. But now it is not shying away from criticizing Samsung and other competitors, and does not hesitate to resort to the courts when the company feels its interests are threatened.

The officials attributed this change to Chairman Koo's drive to spur the conglomerate's units to be more active and agile in protecting their technologies, as competition between companies here and overseas becomes harsher.

"Conglomerates are running their businesses in a flood of legal battles that are being used as a tool to protect themselves," a business administration professor at a Seoul-based university said.

"What's noticeable in LG recently is that the group is taking the war public. LG had the reputation of being a harmonious and friendly company in the past, but now the group seems to be unafraid of disputes."

Currently, several LG companies are in public disputes with major rivals.

LG Chem is in a legal battle with peer electric vehicle battery maker SK Innovation in the U.S. In April, LG Chem filed a petition with the Delaware District Court against SK Innovation, claiming the latter stole confidential business information through employee poaching.

As SK Innovation countersued LG Chem last month, claiming the LG unit has violated its patents, the two battery giants have since been exchanging harsh rhetoric, with the latter demanding the former acknowledge its fault and pay compensation.

LG Electronics is also ramping up its attacks on Samsung Electronics.

At the IFA trade fair last week, LG Electronics Executive Vice President Park Hyoung-sei criticized Samsung, saying its 8K TVs did not comply with criteria set by an international organization that develops display performance measurement standards. Samsung display business President Han Jong-hee denounced the claim as "disrespectful," and commented, "It is human nature to try to imitate and speak ill of the leader."

Prior to this, LG Uplus, filed a petition with the Fair Trade Commission against SK Telecom and KT in July, claiming the two rivals provided illegal subsidies to subscribers. In June, LG Household & Health Care filed a petition with an antitrust body against e-commerce firm Coupang.

Industry officials said the new chairman's leadership highlighting pragmatism as well as tougher competition between companies has affected each group's decision.

"In the past, competitions in display or other businesses were about new growth opportunities. However, it has become a matter of survival," an official at another local conglomerate said. "In such an environment, companies have to be aggressive and active in protecting their technology and market share, and LG under Koo's leadership is agile in doing so."

An LG Group official said the disputes and lawsuits are an outcome of each respective unit's decision, as their CEOs thought they were necessary for their survival.

"The group lets its respective units' CEOs make important decisions and all of these moves just happened to be come at the same time as competition is heating up across all of our business domains," the official said.



Emailnamhw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
LG
 
  • Foreigner-owned businesses facing shutdown due to visa rule change
  • Legal loophole allows sex doll shops to open around schools
  • 'Booster shot' plan further corners vaccination program
  • 1 in 3 young students felt suicidal due to academic burden: poll
  • Justice ministry grants temporary stay permits for undocumented migrant children
  • EU rejection of Canadian Air merger may affect Korean Air-Asiana deal
  • Korea needs better support for multiracial children in rural areas
  • 'Seoul has no reason to object if Japan's Fukushima water release follows IAEA standards': Foreign Minister
  • Number of Korean stay-at-home fathers hits new high in March
  • Korea to strengthen monitoring of cryptocurrencies
  • No. of live viewers on BTS online event reaches 2.7 million: agency No. of live viewers on BTS online event reaches 2.7 million: agency
  • BTS member Jimin's 'unwashed' costume to go on auction BTS member Jimin's 'unwashed' costume to go on auction
  • Ex-K-pop star breaks silence on group's bullying; agency continues to threaten legal action Ex-K-pop star breaks silence on group's bullying; agency continues to threaten legal action
  • Grandmother featured in 2002 hit family drama 'The Way Home' dies at 95 Grandmother featured in 2002 hit family drama 'The Way Home' dies at 95
  • KOFIC's secretary general facing fresh allegations over misappropriating taxpayers' money KOFIC's secretary general facing fresh allegations over misappropriating taxpayers' money
DARKROOM
  • Ending 'Endless War'

    Ending 'Endless War'

  • Locust outbreak

    Locust outbreak

  • Death toll rises as protests continue in Myanmar

    Death toll rises as protests continue in Myanmar

  • Say 'NO' to racism (Part 2)

    Say 'NO' to racism (Part 2)

  • Say 'NO' to racism (Part 1)

    Say 'NO' to racism (Part 1)

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group