Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are expanding their tablet PC lineup for children as the global tech giants eye them as potential customers amid a growing market for e-books and digital education.

LG is ready to roll out a follow-up to the Kids Pad introduced in 2012 called the Kids Pad 2, a nontoxic and durable tablet featuring basic tool kits to learn Korean, English and math.

The upgraded tablet, which has been certified by the National Radio Research Agency, is expected to hit the market by the end of June, with LG hoping to attract kids aged 3 to 7 to make them lifelong customers.

“Children who were exposed to and familiar with the LG brand are more likely to use its products when they get older,” an LG official said.

Samsung Electronics, the top global smartphone maker known for its Galaxy S series, is also jumping into the ring. Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Tab 3 Kids last November, featuring applications such as Kids World and Parent Mode in line with its strategy to enter the smart learning market for children.

Kids World allows users to download 1,500 educational programs including animations, while Parent Mode enables parents to control the device to prevent their children from using it excessively or accessing apps for adults.

Samsung said the tablet is equipped with Google Play, Android’s app-downloading center, so that kids can continue to use it even when they get older.

Above all, it focused on the tab’s convenience and user-friendly interface.

“Samsung will create new device markets for children with an intuitive and child-friendly user interface, and abundant educational content,” said Samsung Electronics CEO Shin Jong-kyun during the introduction of the Galaxy Tab 3 Kids last year.

Experts said that the development of the smart learning market should not be left only to private companies, but must be carried out through stronger public-private partnerships.

“It would be difficult to boost Korea’s smart education market without a partnership with the government,” said Lee Chae-ho, an analyst at Dongbu Securities.

The Korean government has been pushing for the adoption of smart public learning by launching a trial operation using digital textbooks at 160 schools.

The domestic smart learning market is expected to reach 3 trillion won ($2.9 billion) this year and grow to 4 trillion by 2016, according to the National IT Industry Promotion Agency.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)