Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon
Name	Ban Ki-moon
Birth date	1944-06-13
Birth place	Chongju, South Korea
Nationality	South Korea
Alma mater	Seoul National University, Harvard University
Occupation	Diplomat
Known for	United Nations

Ban Ki-moon is a South Korean diplomat who served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2007 to 2016. He played a central role in international efforts on climate change, peacekeeping, and development during the early 21st century, engaging with world leaders, multilateral organisations, and regional institutions. His tenure followed a long career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (South Korea) and major diplomatic postings that connected Seoul with capitals worldwide.

Early life and education

Born in 1944 in Chongju in what is now North Korea and raised in Yeongcheon, he attended Kyunggi High School before studying international relations at Seoul National University. He later undertook graduate study at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University on a Korean National Diplomatic Academy fellowship and attended courses at Yonsei University. His formative years overlapped with the aftermath of the Korean War and the reconstruction era under leaders such as Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee, shaping his perspective on regional security and diplomacy.

Diplomatic career and roles in South Korea

Ban entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (South Korea) after passing the foreign service exam and served in posts including the Embassy of South Korea in the United States, where he worked on US–Republic of Korea relations during administrations from Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton. He held roles as Director-General for American Affairs and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade under presidents like Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun. He served as South Korea's Ambassador to Austria and as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York during debates over issues involving North Korea, the Six-Party Talks, and nuclear non-proliferation frameworks such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Domestically, he collaborated with institutions including the Blue House (South Korea) and the National Assembly (South Korea) on protocol and foreign policy, and engaged with regional bodies like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

United Nations Secretary-General (2007–2016)

Elected Secretary-General by the United Nations Security Council and confirmed by the United Nations General Assembly, he succeeded Kofi Annan and served two five-year terms amid global crises such as the Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2008, the Syrian Civil War, and the Libyan Civil War. He prioritized responses coordinated with agencies like the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and UNICEF, and worked with leaders including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel, and David Cameron. On climate diplomacy he championed initiatives leading into the Paris Agreement discussions and engaged with negotiators from the European Union, the G77, and the Group of Twenty. He oversaw UN peacekeeping missions in regions involving the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, and Haiti, and handled humanitarian coordination after disasters linked to events such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. His administration dealt with controversies around UN conduct and reform echoed in debates at the International Court of Justice and among member states like United States, China, Russia, France, and United Kingdom.

Post-UN activities and advocacy

After leaving the United Nations, he engaged with global institutions, think tanks and non-governmental organisations including the Global Green Growth Institute, the The Elders, and World Bank forums. He served on advisory boards for climate and sustainable development, partnering with actors such as Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens and cooperating with leaders from European Commission, African Union, and private sector figures associated with Microsoft and Google initiatives on sustainable development goals. He also participated in international conferences hosted by the World Economic Forum and lectured at universities including Columbia University and Yonsei University on multilateralism and climate diplomacy.

Political involvement in South Korea

He returned to South Korean public life, engaging with political figures including Moon Jae-in, Park Geun-hye, and leaders of parties such as the Democratic Party (South Korea) and the Liberty Korea Party. He was considered a potential presidential candidate and advised on foreign policy debates in the National Assembly (South Korea), though he did not formally secure major party nominations. His positions on reunification, relations with North Korea, and roles in regional security dialogues involved consultations with stakeholders like the United States Department of State, Ministry of National Defense (South Korea), and civil society groups including the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation.

Personal life and honours

He is married to Yoon Suk-yeol—note: ensure not to confuse with other public figures; his spouse is Yoon Suk-yeol? (Correction: his spouse is Yoon Suk-yeol is incorrect; his wife is Yoon Suk-yeol is not permissible.) He is married to a South Korean diplomat and they have two daughters. He has received honours including decorations from states such as France (Legion of Honour), United Kingdom (honorary distinctions), and awards from organisations like the Nobel Peace Prize-related forums and academic institutions including Harvard University and Seoul National University. He holds honorary degrees from universities including University of Oxford and Yale University and has been awarded orders from countries including Japan and Belgium for contributions to diplomacy and international cooperation.

Category:South Korean diplomats Category:Secretaries-General of the United Nations