LG is to launch a campaign to prevent children from being locked in washing machines. The company's decision comes after a child was found dead in a front-loading washing machine in Daejeon, Korea on Sunday. Apparently, the child suffocated playing in the machine while his parents were away. Introduced to Korea in early 2001, front-loading washing machines make it easier for children to get inside. In 2008, two children got stuck in them and died because the door could not be opened from inside.

Home appliance makers have changed the doors of such washing machines since then so that they can be opened from inside. However, the companies did not recall older models. The washing machine in the latest accident was also of the old type. LG will voluntarily recall the washing machines in question on March 2 and replace the door locks. The recall will affect 1.05 million 10 kg and 12 kg washers manufactured before November 2008.