The story
KDB Bank was founded in 1954 to supply and manage major industrial capital to help develop Korean industries and the national economy, taking over the viable operations of the former Chôsen Industrial Bank. For the half century since then, KDB Bank has faithfully fulfilled its role as a government-run bank, anticipating and coping with changes in the economic and financial environment.
In the 1950s, KDB supported the nation's economic rehabilitation by restoration of industrial facilities destroyed during the Korean War. This including basic industries such as electricity, coal, and cement. By the end of 1955, it accounted for over 40 percent of total bank lending in South Korea.
In the 1970s, KDB solidified the development of South Korea, by providing funding to heavy industry from energy to chemical and export-oriented industries. Meeting the government's five-year economic development plan and the initiation of new financial businesses such as security underwriting and corporate bond guarantees. Its share of total equipment investment lending in the country, which had declined in the 1960s, rose from 40.3 percent in 1972 to 44.7 percent in 1975 and 49.6 percent in 1979.
In the 1980s, KDB sustaining long-term industrial financing by intensive support for automobile and electronic industries. This was done by providing long-term facility financing in order to construct a stable growth base of the national economy. It also issued Industrial Finance Bonds (IFBs) overseas to create an independent fund, carrying out the role of the primary long-term facility financial institution.
During the 1990s, KDB providing comprehensive corporate banking services to support technology-intensive industries including semiconductors. It also provided and supported comprehensive corporate banking services to help global expansion of corporate clients.
In the 2000s, KDB moved to a new financial policy amid market-oriented economic changes. This included the completion of Universal Banking Services with the four core businesses: Corporate Banking, Investment Banking, International Banking, and Corporate Restructuring/Consulting.
The support for nation-wide infrastructure projects and the resolution of financial distress by taking leadership in corporate restructuring.
During the 2010s, KDB shifted its focus from support of major conglomerates to medium-sized enterprises. Assisted development under the Korean Fourth Industrial Revolution by widening the investment fund. Proactively engaged in corporate restructuring with support of the government of large corporations to avoid major financial distress.
From Wikipedia’s article on Korea Development Bank, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5