Kang Sang-jin, chair of Korea Development Bank, on the 15th stressed that the bank must focus its capabilities on shifting Korea's finance toward productive finance by supporting advanced strategic industries, and on boosting productivity in traditional industries and backing industrial restructuring.
At his inauguration as chair of KDB held at the Yeouido head office in Seoul that day, Park said, "As the importance of finance as a policy tool to underpin the real economy and foster future growth industries is further emphasized, the role of KDB, the leading policy finance institution, is growing." He added, "We must concentrate our capabilities on nurturing small and venture businesses for everyone's growth and improving the constitution of regional industries," and urged employees to "approach their duties with a sense of ownership, uphold integrity, and communicate based on an open mind."
In a separate message sent to employees, Park said, "I offer comfort for the wounds employees suffered during the discussion and push for the head office transfer," and added, "I will listen to employees' voices and communicate with an open mind." Park said, "As someone who has been with KDB for 30 years, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility for this critical duty," and added, "I will do my best, together with all members of KDB, to contribute to the growth of Korea's economy."
Park, who is known to have formed ties at the time as a classmate of the 1982 cohort in Chung-Ang University's law school with President Lee Jae-myung, was appointed last week but had been commuting to a temporary office set up at an undisclosed location in Yeouido, Seoul. This was because the KDB labor union delivered a list of demands including "abolish the head office Busan transfer" and moved to say it would block Park from coming to work if he did not accept them.
The union issued a statement that day, saying, "Chair Park has conveyed his position," and that he "expressed a stance to proactively review sensitive pending issues, such as stating opposition to the head office transfer and pushing to rescind designation as a transferred public institution."