[Alpha Biz=(Chicago) Reporter Paul Lee] In a damage suit filed by 324 buyers of LG Electronics' clothes dryers against LG Electronics, a court ruling was issued to "indemnify 200,000 won per unit." LG Electronics says it will appeal.

According to the industry on the 1st, the Seoul Southern District Court ruled that LG Electronics should compensate 200,000 won per dryer against the plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit the previous day. The original amount raised by the plaintiffs was 1 million won, but the court allowed only some compensation. Some of the 324 cited plaintiffs were 193, six incinerated and 125 dismissed.

LG Electronics has developed a technology to clean the condenser by spraying water (condensate) generated during the drying process with a pump based on the hassle of cleaning it periodically.

However, this automatic cleaning standard was the beginning of the problem. According to a survey by the Korea Consumer Agency, LG Electronics allowed the automatic washing function to operate only when a condensate of 1.6 to 2.0ℓ is collected at the bottom of the condenser or the clothing moisture function ratio (the ratio containing water) is 10 to 15 percent.

Unlike the advertisement of LG Electronics in 2019, complaints that "dust accumulates in the dryer because the automatic cleaning function does not work" continued to flock to the Korea Consumer Agency. Finally, in July of the same year, 247 buyers filed for a collective dispute settlement, asking for the return of the dryer price.

In August of the same year, the Korea Consumer Agency advised LG Electronics to "come up with a correction plan to prevent dust accumulation and repair sold products free of charge." Since then, LG Electronics has begun free repairs to about 1.45 million 'Trom dual-in-butter heat pump dryers' sold since April 2016.

The Korea Consumer Agency decided in November of the same year to pay 100,000 won in alimony per person, but LG Electronics and its buyers rejected the recommendation, leading to a legal lawsuit. LG Electronics expanded to voluntary recalls following the free dryer service, but did not accept the adjustment of 100,000 won in compensation.

In 2021, the Fair Trade Commission imposed a fine of 400 million won on LG Electronics in connection with the case.

LG Electronics emphasized that it is not a product defect, but a problem of 'advertisement'. "The FTC's decision is about the demonstration of advertising expressions in the past," LG Electronics said in a statement. "The advertisement has been suspended and corrected in 2019, and the company provides free upgrade services to all customers."

"LG Electronics' advertising phrase gave us the impression that people who use dryers do not have to manage capacitors at all," the court said. "LG Electronics has decided to pay 200,000 won per dryer for mental damages that have been infringed on the trust and expectations formed through advertising."

However, the court found it difficult to say that the advertisements caused property damage to the plaintiffs.

"While it is once again acknowledged that there are no defects in dryer products, the court's decision leaves something to be desired," an LG Electronics official said

 

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