Koo Kwang-mo

Koo Bon-moo's widow and two daughters brought proceedings in 2023 seeking to redistribute an estate worth approximately two trillion won. They alleged, among other things, that they had accepted the settlement believing that succession instructions existed or because of mistake or deception. In February 2026, the court upheld the inheritance distribution agreement and rejected their allegations of deception; the claimants announced an appeal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Koo Kwang-mo and family members challenged part of the inheritance tax assessment following Koo Bon-moo's death, particularly the valuation of certain unlisted shares. The Seoul Administrative Court rejected their refund application in April 2024.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

In 2023, data belonging to almost 300,000 LG U+ customers were found on an illegal trading website. The data protection commission's investigation concluded that the relevant system had remained vulnerable for years: obsolete software, absent or incorrectly configured basic safeguards and excessive data retention. LG U+ was fined 6.8 billion won, then a record for a Korean company.

Subcontracted cleaners at LG Twin Towers accused LG-linked management entities of using a change of contractor to cause mass dismissals, particularly targeting a unionised workforce. They occupied the premises for several months and filed an unfair labour practice complaint. The dispute ended in April 2021 with an agreement guaranteeing employment in another LG building and extending retirement age.

State of the evidence

Settlement

LG Energy Solution was at the centre of the Kona EV fires case. Following an initial recall considered insufficient, Hyundai decided to replace batteries in tens of thousands of vehicles. The companies publicly disagreed over the precise cause before agreeing to share the cost, with LG bearing approximately 70%, according to published accounts.

State of the evidence

Settlement

LG Chem/LG Energy Solution pursued extensive litigation against SK Innovation in the United States, alleging that it had recruited employees and unlawfully used battery-related trade secrets. The US International Trade Commission ruled in LG's favour on central issues and imposed a limited exclusion order before a global settlement of approximately $1.8 billion ended the disputes in April 2021.

State of the evidence

Settlement

In 2020, LG Chem decided to separate its battery business into a wholly owned subsidiary, later LG Energy Solution. Many retail shareholders denounced a transaction that, in their view, removed the growth asset motivating their investment in LG Chem, and the National Pension Service announced that it would vote against the proposal. The share price fell sharply when the plan was announced.

State of the evidence

Documented