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Our environment is threatened with all kinds of pollutants, bacteria and viruses that affect our health. As a result, an increasing number of people suffer from health-related problems such as asthma, allergies and sinusitis.

With this in mind, LG Electronics, a home appliance company based in South Korea, has developed new appliances with the goal of enhancing our quality of life. Starting this month, these new products will be available in Asia under the LG Health Plus Campaign.

In Indonesia, the campaign is to be launched on May 14.

LG Electronics recently invited the press to visit the company’s headquarters in South Korea for a preview of their newest technology at the company’s research and development centers and factory sites in Seoul, Busan and Changwon.

“LG strongly believes that a healthier lifestyle begins at home,” Young-ha Lee, president and chief executive of LG Electronics, said during a speech at the LG Twin Towers, the company’s headquarters in Seoul, last week.

“Our Health Plus Campaign is at the heart of these efforts, giving us the opportunity to showcase how we can help make customer’s lives healthier through our latest health-oriented features and products.” The Health Plus campaign introduces new technologies in LG refrigerators, microwave ovens and washing machines designed to make modern living easier and healthier at the same time.

Take the new LG refrigerator, for example. The three-way ventilation cooling system installed at the door, the sides and the back of the fridge ensures an even temperature inside, which is necessary for keeping preserved food fresh.

The ventilator also circulates catechin, an antioxidant extracted from green tea leaves, which helps to remove bacteria and odor from the food.

“One of the foremost demands of customers is that their fridges keep food fresher for longer,” Young-ha said. This year, the new LG refrigerators are going a step further to address this concern by incorporating more advanced features with the customer’s health in mind, such as Green Plasma technology.

This technology incorporates a sterilization function that releases ions into the refrigerator’s interiors. This works with a cooling airflow and the catechin extracts to purify the air within the appliance, thus allowing stored food to remain fresher for longer periods.

The Green Plasma Technology in LG refrigerators has been certified by the Japan Food Research Laboratory in 2009.

In Indonesia, this technology has been incorporated in the LG side-by-side refrigerator Shine, which was launched in February 2010.

The refrigerator, which sports a glass front, is embellished with Swarovski crystals and an exquisite floral pattern etched on its front panel.

“We call it ‘The Modern Flower,’ ” said Jae Hyung Ahn, general manager of LG’s marketing department. “It’s a creation by a renowned Korean artist Sang-Lim Ha. The design has already been very well accepted in the markets.”

The LG front-loader washing machines also feature a new technology that uses a steam generator to convert water into steam, which is then fed into the top of the drum through a spray nozzle.

The steam penetrates fabrics and removes allergens, mites and residual detergent, which may cause respiratory problems or skin allergies. It also helps to remove wrinkles and odors from the clothes, reducing the need to iron, Young-ha said.

The new washer, introduced in Indonesia in August 2009, also incorporates the new inverter direct drive motor, which enables the machines to cut back 25 percent of its energy use and 21 percent of its water use.

It also reduces the noise level to an extent “equivalent to the silence found inside of the libraries,” enabling users to run the machines even at night, said Halim Astono, marketing general manager of LG Electronics Indonesia.

The new motor allows for six different motions designed to imitate hand wash techniques and helps to protect soft fabrics, such as silk and wool.

Also part of the LG Health Plus Campaign is the DuoChef, a two-fan convection microwave oven that circulates and distributes heat more efficiently and effectively. “With this technology, the food remains crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside,” Y.P. Kwon, LG product engineer, said. “It also retains its nutrients and flavors.”

She showcased this feature at the LG Cooking Lab in its Changwon factory. She steamed a platter of broccoli in the DuoChef oven for 10 minutes. The result was tender, yet succulent green vegetables that were both delicious and flavorsome. This oven will be launched in Indonesia in July.

The press was also brought to tour the DIOS In Gallery at the chic Nonhyeon-dong area in Seoul, which features top of the line furniture and home appliances shops in South Korea.

DIOS is the top brand of LG home appliances that stands for Deluxe, Intelligent, Optimum and Silent technology that is incorporated in the products.

The store’s hottest selling items were located at the wedding collection corner, a special section reserved for potential newlyweds to choose from among a myriad of airconditioners, massage chairs and Kim Chi refrigerators that they can use to set up their marital abode with.

Kim chi is a traditional Korean pickled dish made with vegetables and seasonings.

“It’s a fermented product that needs a special refrigerator to store it,” said guide Cindy Myung. “The demand for the Kim Chi refrigerators is very high. All Korean married ladies want to have it in their homes.”

Massage chairs, a new line of LG home appliances, are also a favorite. “It’s like having real fingers massaging my neck, back and calves,” said Sitta, an Indonesian journalist, who tried out the chair.

Unfortunately, both the massage chairs and Kim Chi refrigerators are not yet available in Indonesia.

“The appliances are different from country to country,” said Sehwan Bae, a design expert of LG Electronics. “We design each product according to each country’s specific needs and demands.”

For example, Koreans prefer the the sleek, standing type airconditioners that also functions as home decorations, while Indonesians prefer the split type, according to Sehwan..

“[The split air] disperses cool air more quickly within a room,” Sehwan said.

In Indonesia, the latest airconditioning technology introduced in September 2009 was the AC Terminator, which also transmits ultrasonic waves between 30 kilohertz and 100 kilohertz designed to kill the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that cause dengue fever.

“Our products and home appliances are everything around you,” said Ashley Lim, assistant manager of LG Electronics. “We suggest solutions that look after you and your family’s health by improving your living standards .”