GoldStar
South Korean electronics and tractor manufacturer, later LG.
GoldStar began as a South Korean electronics firm in 1958. Its product range was extensive: radios, televisions, air conditioners, MSX home computers, LCD games, VCRs, audio and video cassette tapes, microwave ovens, electronic typewriters, integrated circuits, escalators, elevators, injection molding machines, dehumidifiers, fans, and tractors. In the 1980s, GoldStar televisions became a common brand in the U.S. consumer market. A division called GoldStar Precision made electronic test gear like multimeters and oscilloscopes, plus industrial electronics. After merging with Lucky Chemical on February 28, 1995, the corporate name changed to LG Electronics and LG Cable. GoldStar Precision became LG Precision, keeping many of the same products and model numbers under new branding. In 1999, the measuring device unit was bought by EZ Digital, again with identical or similar model numbers. The industrial side continued as LIG Nex1. LG Cable was later spun off from LG Electronics and renamed LS Cable in 2005. GoldStar’s tractor operations started in 1975 as a Hyundai division, working with Japan’s Yanmar. Cooperation with Italy’s Fiat began in 1977, and in 1983 the division was acquired by GoldStar. That same year, Lucky Chemical and GoldStar merged to form Lucky-Goldstar, and a new partnership with Mitsubishi began. Cooperation with Fiat resumed in 1984. Tractors were sold under the GoldStar and Fiat-GoldStar brands. The Fiat-GoldStar name ended when GoldStar became LG Cable. GoldStar also produced some computer monitors, optical disc drives, and a version of the 3DO multimedia game console, alongside manufacturers like Sanyo, JVC, and Samsung.
Quick Facts
- Trade Name
- GoldStar
- Romanized Name
- RR: Jusikhoesa Geumseong-sa
- Fate
- Split into LG EI and LG Electronics, then LG EI was merged into LG CI to form LG Corporation.
- Successor
- Legal successor merged into LG Corp, business divisions spun off into a new LG Electronics.
- Defunct
- 2002
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
GoldStar was founded in 1958 as a South Korean electronics company. It produced a broad range of consumer and industrial goods, from radios and televisions to elevators and tractors. The company's tractors began in 1975 as a division of Hyundai, in cooperation with Yanmar of Japan, and later with Fiat of Italy. In 1983, the tractor division was acquired by GoldStar, the same year Lucky Chemicals and Goldstar Co. Ltd merged to form Lucky-Goldstar. Tractors were sold under the GoldStar and Fiat-GoldStar brands. GoldStar Precision was a division manufacturing electronic test equipment such as multi-meters and oscilloscopes. After the corporate name changed to LG Electronics and LG Cable in 1995, the precision division became LG Precision, with many of the same products and model numbers but new branding. The measuring device division was acquired by EZ Digital in 1999, again with identical or similar model numbers. The industrial products continued under the company name LIG Nex1. GoldStar also produced computer monitors, optical disc drives, and a version of the 3DO multimedia videogame console.
Reader's Guide
GoldStar's significance lies in its transformation from a South Korean electronics manufacturer into a global brand that became LG Electronics. Its televisions were widely sold in the United States during the 1980s, marking a notable entry into the American consumer market. The company's diversification into tractors, through cooperation with Yanmar, Fiat, and Mitsubishi, and its production of industrial equipment like elevators and injection molding machines, demonstrated a broad manufacturing capability. The precision division's test equipment, later sold under LG and then EZ Digital, maintained continuity of model numbers across brand changes. The merger with Lucky Chemical in 1995 and subsequent spin-offs (LG Cable becoming LS Cable in 2005) reshaped the corporate structure. GoldStar's legacy includes its role in the development of South Korea's electronics industry and its contribution to the global availability of affordable consumer electronics and agricultural machinery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is GoldStar?
GoldStar was a South Korean electronics company founded in 1958 that produced a wide range of consumer and industrial products, including radios, televisions, and home appliances. It is best known today as the predecessor to LG Electronics.
What kind of radios and electronics did GoldStar make?
Beyond radios, GoldStar manufactured televisions, VCRs, audio and video cassette tapes, MSX home computers, LCD games, and even industrial equipment like escalators and elevators. Their product lineup was remarkably broad for a single company.
When did GoldStar change its name to LG?
On February 28, 1995, GoldStar merged with Lucky Chemical and rebranded as LG Electronics, with LG Cable established as a sister entity. That date marked the end of the GoldStar brand name as it had been known since 1958.
What was GoldStar Precision?
GoldStar Precision was a division that specialized in electronic test equipment such as multimeters and oscilloscopes, along with industrial electronics. After the 1995 merger, this division was renamed LG Precision.
Did GoldStar also make tractors?
Yes, starting in 1975, GoldStar entered the tractor business and cooperated with partners including Yanmar, Fiat, and Mitsubishi. This made them one of the few consumer-electronics firms to also produce agricultural machinery.
More in Radio Manufacturers 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced