Jim Yong Kim to step down as World Bank chief on Feb. 1st
- 6 years ago
김용 세계은행 총재 돌연 사임…"내달 1일 물러날 것"
The head of World Bank is stepping down from his post in February.
On specific reasons for the decision, Jim Yong Kim, the first Asian-American to lead the international body, had no comments.
Choi Si-young has the full story.
At Monday's board meeting, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim announced suddenly that he is resigning... despite having three years left in his term.
In his resignation statement, the Korean-American didn't elaborate on the reason for his departure but said it was a great honor to serve as president for the mission of "ending extreme poverty in our lifetime."
The bank said in a statement that Kim will "join an as-yet named firm focusing on increasing infrastructure investments in developing countries."
The former medical doctor will also return to the board of Partners In Health, a non-profit group he co-founded.
Under Kim's leadership, the bank set the goal of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and increased financing for developing countries.
He also secured the Trump administration support for a 13-billion-dollar capital hike to beef up the bank's lending capacity.
But he did accede to U.S. requests that the Bank curb loans to higher-income countries such as China.
Regarding Kim's sudden departure, the BBC pointed to disharmony between Trump and Kim on climate change issues.
Trump has promised to revive the ailing U.S. coal industry, but the Bank under Kim ended its support for coal power projects.
The Guardian and Reuters, however, share a different view, saying that it was Kim's own decision, and Trump administration didn't push him.
World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva will take the reins as interim chief before President Trump selects Kim's successor.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.
The head of World Bank is stepping down from his post in February.
On specific reasons for the decision, Jim Yong Kim, the first Asian-American to lead the international body, had no comments.
Choi Si-young has the full story.
At Monday's board meeting, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim announced suddenly that he is resigning... despite having three years left in his term.
In his resignation statement, the Korean-American didn't elaborate on the reason for his departure but said it was a great honor to serve as president for the mission of "ending extreme poverty in our lifetime."
The bank said in a statement that Kim will "join an as-yet named firm focusing on increasing infrastructure investments in developing countries."
The former medical doctor will also return to the board of Partners In Health, a non-profit group he co-founded.
Under Kim's leadership, the bank set the goal of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030 and increased financing for developing countries.
He also secured the Trump administration support for a 13-billion-dollar capital hike to beef up the bank's lending capacity.
But he did accede to U.S. requests that the Bank curb loans to higher-income countries such as China.
Regarding Kim's sudden departure, the BBC pointed to disharmony between Trump and Kim on climate change issues.
Trump has promised to revive the ailing U.S. coal industry, but the Bank under Kim ended its support for coal power projects.
The Guardian and Reuters, however, share a different view, saying that it was Kim's own decision, and Trump administration didn't push him.
World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva will take the reins as interim chief before President Trump selects Kim's successor.
Choi Si-young, Arirang News.