Company Profile:
LG Chem, Ltd., clarifying its business nature, followed by the English translation.
LG Chem, Ltd. (엘지화학 주식회사) 기업 소개
LG화학은 대한민국에 본사를 둔 세계적인 선도 화학 기업입니다. 1947년 설립되어 오랜 역사와 혁신적인 기술력을 바탕으로 다양한 산업 분야에 핵심 소재와 솔루션을 제공하고 있습니다.
주요 사업 분야:
1. 석유화학 (Petrochemicals): 기초 원료부터 합성수지(PE, PVC, ABS 등), 합성고무 등 광범위한 석유화학 제품을 생산하여 플라스틱, 건축자재, 자동차 부품 등 다양한 산업의 기반을 제공합니다.
2. 첨단소재 (Advanced Materials): 전기차 배터리의 핵심 소재인 양극재, 분리막 등을 비롯하여 IT/전자 소재, 엔지니어링 플라스틱 등 고부가가치 소재를 개발 및 생산하여 미래 산업을 이끌고 있습니다. (참고: 배터리 셀/팩 사업은 2020년 LG에너지솔루션으로 분사되었으나, LG화학은 배터리 '소재' 사업에 집중하고 있습니다.)
3. 생명과학 (Life Sciences): 신약 개발, 바이오 의약품, 정밀화학 분야에서도 혁신적인 연구 개발을 지속하고 있습니다.
기업 특징:
글로벌 리더십: 전 세계 주요 거점에 생산 기지, 연구소, 판매 법인을 운영하며 글로벌 시장을 선도하고 있습니다.
R&D 역량: 끊임없는 연구개발 투자를 통해 기술 혁신을 추구하며 시장을 선도하는 신제품을 출시하고 있습니다.
지속가능경영: 친환경 소재 개발, 공정 효율화, 사회적 책임 활동 등을 통해 지속가능한 성장을 추구합니다.
업종 구분: 공장 vs. 무역상
LG화학은 명확하게 제조업체 (Manufacturer)입니다. 자체적인 대규모 생산 시설(공장)을 보유하고 화학 제품 및 소재를 직접 연구, 개발, 생산합니다. 제품을 판매하기 위한 무역 기능도 갖추고 있지만, 기업의 핵심 정체성은 '제조'에 기반합니다. 단순 중개나 유통을 주로 하는 무역상(Trading Company)과는 근본적으로 다릅니다.
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English Translation:
LG Chem, Ltd. Company Introduction
LG Chem is a leading global chemical company headquartered in South Korea. Established in 1947, it leverages its long history and innovative technological capabilities to provide essential materials and solutions to various industries.
Core Business Areas:
1. Petrochemicals: Produces a wide range of petrochemical products, from basic feedstocks to synthetic resins (PE, PVC, ABS, etc.) and synthetic rubber, providing the foundation for diverse industries such as plastics, construction materials, and automotive parts.
2. Advanced Materials: Leads future industries by developing and producing high-value-added materials, including key electric vehicle (EV) battery materials like cathode materials and separators, as well as IT/electronic materials and engineering plastics. (Note: While the battery cell/pack business was spun off into LG Energy Solution in 2020, LG Chem remains focused on the battery materials business.)
3. Life Sciences: Continues innovative research and development in new drug discovery, biopharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals.
Company Characteristics:
Global Leadership: Leads the global market by operating production bases, research labs, and sales subsidiaries in key locations worldwide.
R&D Capabilities: Pursues technological innovation through continuous investment in research and development, launching market-leading new products.
Sustainability Management: Strives for sustainable growth through the development of eco-friendly materials, process efficiency improvements, and social responsibility activities.
Business Type: Manufacturer vs. Trader
LG Chem is unequivocally a Manufacturer. It possesses and operates its own large-scale production facilities (factories) to directly research, develop, and produce chemical products and materials. While it also has trading functions to sell its products, the company's core identity is based on 'manufacturing'. It is fundamentally different from a Trading Company, which primarily focuses on simple intermediation or distribution.
Enterprise Products
a list of the main product categories manufactured or sold by LG Chem, Ltd. of South Korea, translated into English:
LG Chem, Ltd. - Main Product Categories:
1. Petrochemicals:
Olefins & Aromatics: Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene, Benzene, Toluene, Xylene (BTX), Styrene Monomer (SM).
Polymers:
Polyolefins: Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP).
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) & Plasticizers.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) & EP (Engineering Plastics - e.g., PC, PBT).
Acrylates & Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP).
Synthetic Rubbers (e.g., SBR, BR).
Specialty Polymers.
2. Advanced Materials:
IT & Electronic Materials:
Polarizers (for LCD and OLED displays).
OLED Materials (emitting layers, common layers, etc.).
Photoresists (for semiconductors and displays).
Other display materials (e.g., barrier films).
Battery Materials:
Cathode Materials (NCM, NCMA, etc. for lithium-ion batteries).
Separators (including their proprietary Safety Reinforced Separator - SRS®).
Other battery components (binders, additives).
Engineering Materials: High-performance engineering plastics, composites.
Sustainability Materials: Bio-based and recycled plastics.
RO Membranes: Reverse Osmosis membranes for water treatment.
3. Life Sciences:
Pharmaceuticals: Prescription drugs (e.g., diabetes treatments, growth hormones, vaccines, autoimmune disease therapies).
Diagnostics: Diagnostic reagents and kits.
Aesthetics: Dermal fillers (e.g., YVOIRE brand).
Crop Protection: Agrochemicals (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides).
Important Note: While LG Chem was previously known for manufacturing finished batteries (EV, ESS, consumer), this business was spun off into a separate entity called LG Energy Solution in December 2020. LG Chem continues to be a major supplier of critical materials for batteries to LG Energy Solution and other battery manufacturers.