A familiar name in Korea’s professional audio industry has a new identity. d&b audiotechnik Korea is now ECHTEC Korea, continuing as d&b audiotechnik’s exclusive partner in South Korea under CEO Daniel Kim.
The change marks a new chapter for a business that has represented d&b in Korea since 1997. For ECHTEC Korea, however, the new name is less about leaving the past behind than building on almost 30 years of experience while taking a more personal and agile approach to the market.
At the centre of that transition is Daniel Kim, whose career sits at an unusual intersection of architecture, acoustics, music and professional audio.
Daniel holds a master’s degree in architectural design from Korea and pursued further studies in acoustics and music in Japan. His career has taken him from system design, integration and technical support to cultural facilities, soundscape operation and content creation.
He joined d&b audiotechnik Korea in 2013 as a team leader, later becoming Senior Managing Director. During that time, he led projects at some of Korea’s most prominent venues, including Everland, Busan Concert Hall, the National Intangible Heritage Center, Busan Asiad Main Stadium and Manna Church.
His international experience also includes working as a sound director at the Korean Cultural Center in Japan, where he contributed to cultural exchange between Korea and Japan and the development of K-pop, before joining the audio division of the organising committee for the 2012 EXPO.
Now, he is putting that experience behind ECHTEC Korea: “I take the 30 years of dedication and hard work of d&b audiotechnik Korea very seriously. Moving forward, I want ECHTEC Korea to engage with customers in a more personal, sincere, and authentic way.”
That philosophy is reflected in the company’s vision: authenticity. ECHTEC Korea aims to build on its long-standing customer relationships while responding more quickly to changing market demands.
“We will build on what we do best, while responding quickly and decisively where we need to change.” Daniel said. “Our ambition is to maintain the high standards established over the past three decades, raise them further, and play a pioneering role in the Korean market.”
The company’s role extends well beyond product distribution. ECHTEC Korea provides system design and consulting, technical and after-sales support, education and training, installation assistance, warranty repairs, spare parts, demonstration equipment and d&b Soundscape demonstrations.
Its project portfolio spans some of Korea’s most significant cultural, entertainment and performance spaces, including LG Arts Center Seoul, Seoul Arts Center, Busan Concert Hall, Lotte Concert Hall, GS Caltex Yeulmaru, Gyeonggi Arts Center, Everland, Paradise City CHROMA and Hyundai Card UNDERSTAGE. Its work also extends across major houses of worship and a wide network of mobile and rental audio companies.
The name may have changed, but ECHTEC Korea is retaining the expertise, relationships and commitment built over the past three decades. Under Daniel’s leadership, the company is now looking to turn that legacy into its next phase.
