HSBC says can't wait forever on KEB acquisition

SEOUL, May 26 (Reuters) - HSBC (HSBA.L) (0005.HK) said on Monday that it was committed to an agreement to buy a majority stake in Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) (004940.KS), but could not wait forever.

"We are hopeful that the government will take appropriate action," Simon Cooper, who leads HSBC's South Korean operations, was quoted as saying in a note e-mailed to Reuters by the British bank.

"Our rationale for this acquisition has not changed. KEB is a good fit with HSBC."

(Reporting by Kim Yeon-hee; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)