D&International, 'One-Stop' Service from Building Exterior Design to Construction

Interview with Kim Doyeop, CEO of D&International
"Development of High-Performance Window Systems" for Zero-Energy Buildings

Solol Art Museum, located in Gyodong, Gangneung City, was designed by the renowned architect Richard Meier, famous for his white buildings that utilize natural light. The museum opened in February this year. Turning to Ulsan, in Bukjeong-dong, there is the Ulsan Museum of Art. As the first public art museum in the area, it opened its doors in 2022. Besides having recently opened, these two museums share another commonality: the exterior wall construction was handled by the domestic small and medium-sized enterprise D&International. D&International is a company that manages everything related to building exterior wall systems, from windows to metal structures. The fact that they met the demanding requirements of famous architects and the strict standards of public institutions to complete these projects attests to the company's competitiveness. We met with CEO Kim Doyeop at D&International’s headquarters in Dogok-dong, Seoul, to hear more details.

On the 16th, CEO Kim said, "We provide a one-stop service for building exterior walls, including design, engineering, structural improvement, and construction," adding, "Our goal is to propose solutions unique to each building in various modern architectural designs." His words succinctly encapsulate the problems in the domestic construction industry and their solutions. Kim, who majored in civil engineering, worked in technical sales at a materials company before founding D&International in 2017. Specialized construction companies usually focus on one or two areas, but Kim wanted to handle the entire building exterior wall, which posed a limitation. He explained, "For example, in housing, the construction company has to separately call window companies and metal companies that make up the wall. Since these are different companies, defects or technical issues arise at the junctions. As building designs became more complex and diverse, these problems repeated, and solving them was the reason for starting the company."

Kim Doyeop, CEO of DN International

After founding the company, CEO Kim allocated about 20% of the staff to development personnel and continuously invested in research and development of high-performance windows, operable windows, exterior materials, and metal window systems. The concerns he had were shared by building owners and designers. As they demonstrated their technical capabilities at various sites, demand surged rapidly. Kim said, "We receive about 150 project proposals annually, and carry out construction on about 20 of them," adding, "They are most needed in small to medium-sized buildings." Sales followed suit, with 15 billion KRW expected this year and 20 billion KRW next year despite the poor construction market. The number of employees has also grown to around 30.

D&International’s next move is aligned with 'Zero Energy Buildings' as the mandatory certification for zero energy buildings is expanding. CEO Kim explained, "High-performance materials are necessary to minimize energy use," and added, "We are developing a high-insulation window system that makes windows slim while improving energy efficiency." They continue efforts to realize modern architecture that integrates diverse designs and technologies while meeting the demands of zero energy buildings. Kim emphasized, "We pursue products that satisfy three aspects: technology, price, and design," and stated, "Rather than sticking to off-the-shelf products or systems used in the past, we will respond quickly to changes and demands."

Kim Doyeop, CEO of DN International