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Start our story
The Rediscovery
of Archives
In 1947, LG Chem’s predecessor,
Lucky Chemical, was founded with a simple purpose:
to bring joy and delight to everyday life.
For over 80 years, our journey has been defined by innovation.
But even the most remarkable stories fade—
unless they are recorded and remembered.
ARCHIVES
Why We Archive
Since 2016, the LG Chem Digital Archive
has been collecting and digitizing over
80 years of history—organizing the
stories of LG Chem’s
challenges and innovations.
To date, it has preserved 26,845 records,
each telling a unique story,
yet all connected to
LG Chem’s heritage.
Learning from the past,
Capturing the present,
Connecting to the future.
Digital Archive stands as a bridge, carrying LG Chem’s legacy into tomorrow.
Chapter 1.
Learning from the past
Interpreting the Records,
Uncovering the Meaning Within
In 1951, the immensely popular Lucky Cream had one flaw: its lid broke too easily.
Determined to satisfy customers, Lucky Chemical took a daring step—at a time when “plastic” was an unfamiliar word, they resolved to produce it themselves.
Using a substantial 300 million won from cosmetics sales, Lucky introduced Korea’s first injection molding machine. After countless trials, they succeeded in creating an unbreakable, long-lasting plastic lid—a small innovation that marked the beginning of Korea’s plastics industry.
Digital Archive highlights the values embedded in this story: customer satisfaction and sustainability.
Discover the Lucky Cream StoryDigital Archive is more than a repository of the past. It reinterprets hidden meanings and serves as a conduit connecting history with who we are today.
The DNA of Challenge
and Innovation
That Has Transformed
Our Lives
Opening the era of plastics and pioneering modern R&D,
LG Chem’s journey is marked by countless milestones—often
accompanied by the words “world’s first” and “Korea’s first.”
Digital Archive captures these defining moments, sharing a
legacy of bold challenges and groundbreaking innovations.
Each record of a world-changing moment now serves as a guide leading us toward even greater transformations today.
1956 Korea’s First PVC Pipe
In 1956, Lucky Chemical developed Korea’s first PVC pipe, making everyday life more convenient.
1979 Opening of Lucky Central Research Center
A place where ideas turned into innovation through trial and error. By establishing Korea’s first private corporate research center, LG Chem set the standard for modern R&D.
1991 Korea’s First Genetic Engineering- Based Cancer Therapy
After five years of research and years of clinical trials, Lucky succeeded in developing gamma interferon—the first in Korea and the third in the world.
1999 World’s First Commercialization of Lithium-Ion Batteries
LG Chem became the first chemical company to commercialize rechargeable batteries in 1999. It now leads in all four key battery materials: cathodes, binders, separators, and electrolytes.
the past
Discovering the Present
That Reflects the Past
Every achievement is more than a simple result.
Behind it lies years of accumulated experience and a history of relentless challenge.
LG Chem’s commitment to sustainability is no different.
An unending challenge that began in the past
continues to shape today’s outcomes.
Through its archives, LG Chem proves
the enduring connection between
the past and the present.
-
1986 Entry into Alternative Energy to
Reduce Carbon Emissions
In 1986, Lucky Engineering entered the alternative energy industry by developing a structural solar thermal collector*. This product offered a significant advantage—its thermal efficiency was three to four times higher than existing models. * Solar thermal collector: A device that gathers sunlight and converts it into thermal energy.
2023 Establishment of DRM Pilot Facility
In 2023, LG Chem became the first in Korea to install a DRM(Dry Reforming of Methane) pilot facility at its Daesan plant—an application of carbon capture and utilization technology*. The DRM process uses greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane emitted from industrial operations to produce raw materials for plastics. * Carbon capture and utilization: A technology that captures carbon from the air and recycles it as a resource.
-
1996 Development of Pyrolysis
Technology for Waste Plastics
In 1996, LG Chem’s Technology Research Institute successfully developed a commercial pyrolysis process for waste plastics, marking a breakthrough in plastic waste recycling and resource recovery.
2024 Construction of
Chemical Recycling Plant
In 2024, LG Chem completed Korea’s first supercritical pyrolysis plant in Dangjin. Chemical recycling enables the breakdown of complex plastics, such as multi-material packaging and lightly contaminated plastics and converts them back into basic raw materials for plastic production.
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1987 Phosphate-Free Laundry Detergent
In 1987, Lucky Super-Ti introduced a new standard in laundry care by removing phosphates, a major source of water pollution, and adopting zeolite, an environmentally safe ingredient.
2022 BOPE
In 2022, LG Chem developed BOPE(Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene) to improve packaging recyclability. By replacing multi-layer materials like nylon and PET with a single PE-based film, BOPE makes recycling more efficient and sustainable.
-
1992 Compostable Shampoo Bottle
In 1992, LG Chem introduced a compostable shampoo bottle made with starch- based plastic, offering a faster return to nature and marking an early step toward sustainable packaging.
2023 COMPOSTFUL™ Launch
In 2023, LG Chem launched COMPOSTFUL™, a compostable material solution that breaks down up to 90% within 6 to 24 months, helping plastic return to nature faster.
Chapter 2.
The LG Chem Way of
The LG Chem Way of
Archiving Today
While yesterday’s records teach us
sincerity that shaped LG Chem today
recording today becomes
the foundation for tomorrow.
To guide LG Chem’s today toward a better future, Digital Archive acts as a compass by archiving LG Chem’s today in our own way.
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1975 | Company Newsletter 'Lucky' first issue -
1978 | Lucky Group English Catalog -
2024 | ZERO BOOK
All Change Starts
from Zero
In the face of the climate crisis, Digital Archive set out to capture LG Chem’s today— a day driven by the dream of a sustainable future.
From the journey toward zero that LG Chem has envisioned, to building a circular economy that reuses resources and preparing for a truly sustainable society—
this is the story of LG Chem today.
The archive has gathered the voices of people and a company deeply committed to the environment and created the ZERO BOOK.
Sharpening the resolution of the past,
capturing the vividness of today.
From the days when LG Chem was known as Lucky,
to the present, we have shaped everyday life
with diverse products and materials.
Digital Archive brings this legacy to life,
digitizing and making these records accessible.
To ensure that LG Chem’s history does not fade in storage,
the archive restores the clarity of past records
and preserves today’s achievements in sharp detail—
one of its most vital roles.
-
Lucky BboBbo Toothpaste -
Lucky Lemon Soap -
Machine for Inserting Bristles -
Oriental Comb -
Lucky Product Brochure -
Early Lithium-Ion Battery (Prismatic Type) -
Cathode materials -
Anode binder -
Life Sciences -
Remote Control Made from Recycled Plastic -
Aerogel -
RE:SOBAN -
Recycled PVC
A Different Perspective
Through Archiving
Digital Archive not only captures LG Chem’s present,
but also reimagines how it can serve as a bridge for communication.
We introduced interactive infographics on eco-friendly plastics—
simplifying complex chemical processes into clear, digestible steps,
and bringing the content to life through motion graphics.
Even now, Digital Archive continues to explore new ways
to more clearly reflect LG Chem’s present.
1 MECHANICAL
RECYCLING
: Eco-Friendly Plastics, Reused Like New
LG Chem mechanically recycles plastics by selecting and extracting materials from end-of-life products such as discarded TVs, computers, and refrigerators, reproducing them into plastic materials that are virtually as good as new.
2 CHEMICAL
RECYCLING
: Turning Plastics Back Through Chemical Processes
Even plastics that are difficult to recycle mechanically, such as waste vinyl and multi-material plastics, can be recycled through chemical processes. LG Chem uses supercritical pyrolysis technology to produce circular pyrolysis oil from waste plastics, which is then fed back into the process to create new plastics.
3 COMPOSTABLE
MATERIALS
: Returning to Nature Without Leaving a Trace
LG Chem’s COMPOSTFUL™ is a compostable plastic that breaks down within six months to two years under specific conditions. In response to regulations on single-use products and the growing demand for compostable solutions, LG Chem is developing a wide range of compostable materials for various applications.
4 BIO MATERIALS
: Reducing Carbon Emissions with Renewable Resources
LG Chem creates eco-friendly bio materials by blending renewable feedstock extracted from plant-based sources with fossil-based raw materials. Today, LG Chem offers more than 61 types of eco-friendly bio materials certified by global standards.
Chapter 3.
Connecting to Tomorrow
Digital Archive: Connecting Records to the Future
Digital Archive collects, preserves, and evolves the heritage that began with Lak Hui, continued through Lucky, and lives on in LG Chem—constantly linking the past, present, and future.
1954
1999
2006
2023
In 2025, marking the 10th year of Digital Archive, we launched “Archives 100”,
a curated collection of 100 records selected from 26,845 items.
This is more than a place that simply lists old memories.
Seven key themes connect records, revealing the history of LG Chem within those connections.
A deeper gaze
into our future
Archive 100 is a space for sharing the questions LG Chem has carried from the past and for seeking better answers together. Through Archive 100, we sometimes pause for deeper thought, share the answers we’ve uncovered from the past, and imagine a better tomorrow.
10 Years of Archiving,
26,845 Records Collected.
Within Digital Archive, LG Chem’s history stands as a milestone, guiding the path toward a new tomorrow.
Slow and Steady. Digital Archive continuously connects yesterday, today, and tomorrow.