Cooperation is Kim's legacy for World Bank and the world

Before becoming the president of the World Bank in 2012, Jim Yong Kim was a reputed global health leader and had served as the department chair of Harvard Medical School and president of Dartmouth College. Among his many distinguished services, however, he will be most remembered for his leadership at the World Bank.

The World Bank was established thanks to the collective work of the international community, even though the process was initiated by the United States to help developing countries after the end of World War II. At its peak in 1945, the US was both enthusiastic and capable of helping build a rule-based world order. In fact, it helped establish the United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to foster global peace and prosperity. However, the US doesn't have the same capability today.

The rise of Kim illustrated the so-called American Dream, as until recently the US used to be proud of its multicultural society and welcomed immigrants. As a Korea-born American and a member of that multicultural society, Kim is the first Asian American to serve as the World Bank president. His tenure was extended to a second five-year term in 2017.