A former South Korean official was named the vice chief for digital transformation of the World Bank to become the first South Korean to assume a top-level position in the organization, Seoul’s finance ministry said Tuesday.

Kim Sang-bu was appointed as the World Bank’s vice president for digital transformation to lead its policy measures meant to support the economic growth of developing nations through digital technologies, according to the ministry.

It was the first time that a South Korean national has taken a senior position at the World Bank since the country joined the organization in 1995. Former World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim was a U.S. citizen.

Kim’s term will begin on Sept. 3, the ministry said.

Kim, 52, served as a director of government affairs and public policy for consumer products, Asia Pacific, at Google from 2022 until recently after he joined the tech giant in 2019.

He worked for LG Uplus Corp., a South Korean mobile carrier, from 2015-2019 before serving various positions at governmen
t entities, including the presidential office and the communication ministry.

The finance ministry said the appointment is expected to serve as a chance for South Korea to further enhance its status in the artificial intelligence and digital sectors and vowed active backing for more South Koreans to serve senior roles at major global institutions.

The World Bank has four managing directors and 27 vice presidents.

Source: Yonhap News Agency