Korea Development Bank: Koreans divided on fate of a national treasure

South Korea’s new president, Lee Myung Bak, urgently wants the privatization of Korea Development Bank; he hopes it will become globally competitive. But some question the wisdom of the deal. Lawrence White reports from Seoul.

Lee Myung Bak: his desire to push through reforms has earned him the title of “bulldozer” 

Lee Myung Bak: his desire to push through reforms has earned him the title of “bulldozer”

ON A MILD April afternoon in Seoul, a line of converted buses with darkened grille-covered windows brood outside the Korea Exchange building. Just inside the glass doors, neat rows of bored-looking police kneel on riot shields. In tomorrow’s elections, newly elected president Lee Myung Bak will win the slender parliamentary majority needed to enact some of the reforms he has been promising.

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