DB Inc. names Kim Byung-jik president of trading division, eyes 'niche specialist' growth

DB Inc. held an inauguration ceremony Tuesday for Kim Byung-jik as president of its trading division. Kim will also serve concurrently as head of the management support division.

The company said it appointed Kim to lead the division "to drive full-scale expansion of the trading business, which encompasses trade, electronics and investment operations."

Kim graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in accounting and earned an MBA from the University of Michigan. After joining DB Group in 2021, he served as head of customer asset management at DB Securities and later as head of business strategy and chief financial officer at DB Inc.

In his inaugural address, Kim said the trading division's goal is "not simply to grow in scale," but "to become a unique, niche specialist trading company that enhances value for customers and industries, backed by a solid commercial network and investment foundation."

In its trading business, DB Inc. plans to build a stable operational base by expanding domestic and overseas commercial networks and identifying new distribution-based business models. The company also intends to develop an investment-backed supply chain management model targeting promising companies and projects in the steel and chemical sectors to secure a sustainable competitive edge.

For its electronics business, the company plans to broaden its IT solution partner base to expand into higher-value-added products and markets, while upgrading its semiconductor equipment distribution and refurbishment operations. It will also build a dedicated semiconductor platform and gradually extend its reach from consumables supply to equipment parts and services.

On the investment side, DB Inc. said it will strategically invest in high-tech sectors — including semiconductors, AI and robotics — that can generate synergies with DB Group's three core technology businesses: IT, semiconductor design and foundry.

DB Inc. is a key affiliate within DB Group's manufacturing and services arm, having grown on the strength of its IT, trade and brand businesses. A 2023 merger with DB Metal expanded its portfolio to include ferroalloys and construction.