HEALTH INSURERS EXCLUDED FROM SOUTH KOREA PRIVATISATION

South Korean health insurers will be excluded from the government’s privatisation plans, according to local reports. The country’s new president, Lee Myung-bak, who took office in February, has been looking to make the public sector more efficient through a programme of privatisations, but he now said that health insurers and public utilities will be excluded from the plans. There had been protests at the privatisation proposals amid fears of job losses and South Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance has now said it will not now seek to privatise companies these central sectors. The government will continue to seek modernisation of South Korea’s public sector, the ministry said.