LG unveils Korea's first washer-dryer combo with heat pump

LG Electronics' washer-dryer launched in Korea on Thursday. [LG ELECTRONICS]

LG Electronics brought the much-anticipated washer-dryer to the Korean market ahead of Samsung, which is slated to introduce a similar type as early as this month.

The premium appliance is able to wash and dry clothes with the push of a single button using heat pump technology. It is able to handle 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of clothes for washing and 13 kilograms for drying.

There is an additional mini washer underneath for delicate clothes that is able to handle four kilograms at a time.

Premiered at the IFA 2023, the combination of a washer and dryer in a single appliance using the heat pump is first of its type in the country, suiting LG's initiative of realizing "zero home labor."

With the machine, heavy, soggy clothes don't need to be moved to a dryer after washing, as the unit switches modes itself to finish the drying process in one cycle. It is especially practical for Korean households, most of which are apartments with limited space for utilities.

While the previous versions stacked the washer and the dryer on top of each other, the combo allows the upper part of the appliance to be used as storage.

LG Electronics emphasizes the heat pump technology, which plays vital role in enabling low heat to dry the clothes to a crisp level without damaging them compared to a condenser type.

The newest product processes on a DQ-C AI chip to determine how long the drying will take within three to six seconds upon closing the door based on the weight. It also is able to evenly distribute clothes when spin-drying the them to minimize vibration and noise.

The starting price for the washer-dryer is 6.9 million won.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]