Samsung ' s , LG ' s marketing costs rise in 2016 amid heightened competition SEOUL , April 5 ( Yonhap ) -- Samsung Electronics Co . and LG Electronics Inc . , South Korea ' s two leading tech giants , expanded their spending on marketing last year amid increased competition , data showed Wednesday . According to industry data , Samsung spent 11 . 5 trillion won ( US $ 10 . 2 billion ) on marketing in 2016 . The figure included 4 . 4 trillion won on advertisements , which advanced 15 percent on - year . LG Electronics also spent 1 . 3 trillion won on advertisements last year , a 21 . 4 percent increase over the cited period . Industry watchers said the rise seems to be tied to Samsung focusing on promoting its smartphones and LG struggling to promote its high - end home electronics . Samsung struggled to promote the Galaxy S 7 and the ill - fated Galaxy Note 7 last year . The South Korean tech giant also made efforts to maintain its brand reputation after the suspension of the Galaxy Note 7 ' s production . The phablet was discontinued on reports that some of the devices caught fire while charging around the globe . LG aired its first advertisement during the Super Bowl , the annual U . S . National Football League championship last year , promoting its organic light - emitting diode ( OLED ) television . " We have expanded spending on marketing to bolster our strategy on super - premium products , " a LG Electronics official said . Industry watchers said Samsung and LG are expected to continue their aggressive marketing strategies in 2017 . The logo of Samsung Electronics Co . ( Yonhap ) colin @ yna . co . kr ( END )