Byun was formerly the Chief Representative (Director General) for Bank of Korea’s Washington D.C. Representative Office

Mr Winston Quek, CEO of SBI Digital Markets (left) and Mr Jai Yung Byun, Principal Consultant (right)

Singapore, 10 July 2024 – SBI Digital Markets announces the appointment of Jai Yung Byun as Principal Consultant, signaling a significant strengthening of the company’s business and outreach in Korea. Byun brings a wealth of experience, particularly from his distinguished career at the Bank of Korea, where he played pivotal roles in international finance and policy planning. SBI Digital Markets also aims to deliver solutions at the highest institutional-grade governance standards to safeguard its institutional investors and issuers. 

Byun has been advising on business development and regulatory strategies for SBI Digital Markets in South Korea since 2023. His expertise has been instrumental in navigating the intricate landscape of the Korean market, fostering relationships with financial institutions across both public and private sectors.

Byun’s illustrious career began at the Bank of Korea, where he held various leadership positions, including Head of the International Finance Policy Planning Team, Director General Foreign Exchange Analysis and Investigation, and Chief Representative at the Bank of Korea’s Washington D.C. Representative Office. He played a crucial role in South Korea’s recovery from the foreign exchange crisis in 1997 to 1998 and led negotiations for significant agreements, including the Currency-Swap Agreement with ASEAN, Japan, China, and South Korea. Byun’s contributions also extended to the foundation of the Korea Investment Corporation in 2005.

Winston Quek, CEO of SBI Digital Markets, said: “We are pleased to welcome Mr Byun to the SBI Digital Markets team. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the Korean market will be invaluable as we continue to expand our presence and offerings in the region. Mr Byun’s appointment underscores our commitment to delivering excellence and driving growth in Korea, APAC and beyond. Leveraging Mr Byun’s consultancy, we will also further strengthen our governance and regulatory compliance standards to safekeep the interests of our institutional investors and partners.”

Prior to joining SBI Digital Markets, Byun served as Country Manager, South Korea for Northern Trust, where he spearheaded the growth and development of the Seoul office. His responsibilities included overseeing client servicing and foreign exchange trading for Northern Trust’s global clients with investments in South Korean portfolios.

Byun holds a Master of Economics from the University of Colorado, USA, and has served as an adjunct professor at leading universities in Seoul. He is also the author of ‘Foreign Exchange Management in the Global Era’ (2011), further demonstrating his expertise in international finance and economics.

About SBI Digital Markets (www.sbidm.com)

SBI Digital Markets is a subsidiary of SBI Digital Asset Holdings, the digital asset arm of Japan’s leading conglomerate SBI Group. With the largest securities account customer base and second-largest trading market in Japan, SBI Group has a global network across 25 countries including key markets in Asia and Europe. SBI Digital Markets offers clients a comprehensive digitalisation framework from origination, tokenisation, distribution to custodian services across traditional and Web 3.0 product suites.