Lucky Oil and Fat Introduces South Korea's First Synthetic Detergents, HiTi and New Hit

On April 10, 1966, Lucky Oil and Fat Co., Ltd., a company within Lucky Group, the predecessor of LG Group, began producing and selling South Korea's first domestically manufactured synthetic detergents under the brand names “HiTi” (Hi-Tai) and “New Hit.” Established in March 1959, Lucky Oil and Fat had initially focused on manufacturing soaps and other household products before expanding into synthetic detergents. The company developed its detergent manufacturing operations at a facility in Anyang, incorporating imported Japanese machinery and production technology. The launch marked a major advancement in South Korea's household cleaning industry, introducing modern powdered detergents as an alternative to traditional laundry soaps and washing methods. The project was strongly promoted by company executive Heo Shin-koo, whose efforts helped bring the products into commercial production. The introduction of HiTi and New Hit marked an important turning point in South Korea's consumer goods and chemical manufacturing industries. Although the detergents initially faced limited consumer demand, Lucky Oil and Fat launched extensive marketing campaigns involving public washing demonstrations and direct product promotions to familiarize households with synthetic detergents. By 1967, HiTi had gained considerable popularity, encouraging the company to expand production capacity. The success of these products helped modernize household laundry practices, strengthened the Lucky brand, and supported the group's growth in consumer chemicals. In March 1968, Lucky Oil and Fat merged with Lucky Chemical, further consolidating the group's chemical and household products businesses. These pioneering detergent operations eventually became part of the historical foundation of LG Household & Health Care, established as an independent company in 2001