LG’s G2 launch mishap in Korea

LG Electronics was looking to launch its Optimus G2 phone globally. In, Seoul, Korea, to drum up buzz about the launch, LG created a campaign that played on the slogan about LG’s phone being “in the Cloud.”The campaign event involved filling up some helium balloons, with some of them containing a voucher for a free G2 smartphone inside.LG released 100 helium balloons, each with a free smartphone voucher in an outdoor park in Seoul. The phones, which sell for KRW 950,000 in South Korea would be given to people in possession of the voucher.However, twenty people were injured, with seven sent to hospital, when the promotional stunt went wrong, a BBC article stated.People arrived with BB guns and knives on sticks for a race to grab smartphone vouchers hanging from helium balloons.LG had to cancel a series of events promoting the handset as a result of the incident in Seoul on Friday. LG has taken responsibility for the situation and said it would cover related medical costs."LG Electronics deeply regrets that a number of Korean participants were injured during an outdoor promotional event in Seoul, Korea. We can confirm that seven participants were hospitalised and, although none of the injuries were serious, LG takes full responsibility for the unfortunate situation and has offered to cover all related medical expenses. LG is investigating the incident to ensure that such an occurrence can be avoided in the future,” a statement from the firm said.According to LG, it also called off other planned events because of safety concerns.