Ban Ki-moon

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Ban Ki-moon
Ban in 2016
Ban Ki-moon
Born13 6, 1944
BirthplaceInsei, Chūseihoku Province, Korea, Empire of Japan
NationalitySouth Korean
OccupationDiplomat, politician, international civil servant
TitlePresident and Chair, Global Green Growth Institute
Known for8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
Children3
AwardsForbes World's Most Powerful People (2013), Foreign Policy Top 100 Global Thinkers (2016)

Ban Ki-moon (Template:Lang-ko; born June 13, 1944) is a South Korean diplomat and politician who served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2016. Born in Japanese-occupied Korea during the final years of the Second World War, Ban rose through the ranks of South Korean diplomacy over a career spanning more than three decades before reaching the pinnacle of international public service. He served as South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2004 to 2006 under President Roh Moo-hyun, a position that gave him the diplomatic platform from which to mount his successful campaign for the United Nations' top post. As Secretary-General, Ban oversaw significant reforms in UN peacekeeping operations and employment practices, and he became a prominent advocate on issues including climate change and the conflict in Darfur. His tenure culminated in the adoption and rapid ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Since leaving the United Nations, Ban has remained active in global affairs, serving as president and chair of the Global Green Growth Institute, co-chairing the Global Commission on Adaptation, and co-founding the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. He also serves as a Distinguished Chair Professor at Yonsei University and as a member of The Elders, through which he continues to advocate for multilateral reform and global cooperation.[1]

Early Life

Ban Ki-moon was born on June 13, 1944, in the village of Insei in Chūseihoku Province, part of Korea under Japanese colonial rule. He grew up during a period of immense upheaval on the Korean Peninsula, which included the end of Japanese occupation in 1945, the division of Korea, and the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. Ban has spoken publicly about the impact of the United Nations on his own family during this turbulent period, recounting that the UN played a role in his family's survival during the conflict.[2] This personal experience with the organization would later inform his lifelong commitment to diplomacy and international cooperation.

Ban's early exposure to international affairs came as a young student. He demonstrated academic promise and developed an interest in foreign languages and global issues from an early age. Growing up in post-war South Korea, a country undergoing rapid reconstruction and modernization, Ban was part of a generation that witnessed the transformation of their nation from one of the world's poorest countries into a rapidly developing economy. The intersection of his personal history with the broader narrative of Korean development and the role of international institutions in the region's stabilization shaped his worldview and professional ambitions.

Ban's path toward a diplomatic career began to take shape during his formative years, as he pursued studies that would prepare him for government service and international engagement. His background in a country that had benefited significantly from international assistance and multilateral cooperation gave him a perspective that would later define his approach to global governance.[3]

Career

Early Diplomatic Career

Ban Ki-moon entered South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs after completing his education, embarking on a diplomatic career that would span more than three decades. He rose steadily through the ranks of South Korean diplomacy, serving in a variety of posts both domestically and abroad. His career in the ministry exposed him to a wide range of international issues, from bilateral relations with major powers to multilateral negotiations at international forums.

Throughout his career in the South Korean foreign service, Ban developed a reputation as a methodical and diligent diplomat. He served in various capacities within the ministry, gaining expertise in areas including security policy, inter-Korean relations, and international organizations. His assignments included postings that brought him into contact with the workings of the United Nations system, experience that would prove instrumental in his later career.[3]

Ban's diplomatic style was characterized by a preference for quiet negotiation and consensus-building rather than confrontational approaches. This approach, while sometimes criticized as overly cautious, allowed him to navigate complex diplomatic environments and build relationships across different political systems and cultures.[4]

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

On January 17, 2004, Ban was appointed as South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade by President Roh Moo-hyun, succeeding Yoon Young-kwan in the post. In this role, Ban was responsible for overseeing South Korea's foreign policy and international trade relations during a period of significant geopolitical activity in East Asia and beyond.

As foreign minister, Ban managed South Korea's relationships with major powers including the United States, China, Japan, and Russia, as well as the country's engagement with multilateral institutions. He also dealt with the ongoing challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear program and inter-Korean relations, issues of central importance to South Korean foreign policy.

Ban's tenure as foreign minister provided him with the high-level diplomatic platform and international visibility that would prove essential to his subsequent campaign for the position of UN Secretary-General. The role gave him regular access to foreign leaders and senior diplomats from around the world, and it allowed him to travel extensively, including to all countries represented on the United Nations Security Council.[5]

Ban served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade until December 1, 2006, when he stepped down ahead of assuming the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations. He was succeeded in the ministerial post by Song Min-soon.

Campaign for Secretary-General

Ban Ki-moon began his campaign for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations in February 2006.[6] He was initially considered a long shot for the office, facing competition from several other candidates including Shashi Tharoor of India, who was then serving as Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information at the United Nations.

Ban's strategy centered on leveraging his position as South Korea's foreign minister to conduct an extensive diplomatic campaign. He traveled to all countries represented on the United Nations Security Council, a move that allowed him to build personal relationships with key decision-makers and gauge the level of support for his candidacy among the Council's permanent and non-permanent members. This systematic approach to courting Security Council members proved effective and gradually transformed him from a lesser-known candidate into the campaign's front-runner.[3]

The competition for the post saw several candidates withdraw during the process. Shashi Tharoor pulled out of the race as the selection process narrowed.[7] On October 13, 2006, Ban was elected as the eighth Secretary-General by the United Nations General Assembly, following a recommendation by the Security Council. He was set to succeed Kofi Annan of Ghana, who had served two terms in the position.[8]

Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007–2016)

First Term (2007–2011)

Ban Ki-moon assumed office as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations on January 1, 2007, succeeding Kofi Annan. From the outset of his tenure, Ban identified several priority areas, including climate change, peacekeeping reform, and organizational reform of the United Nations system.

One of Ban's most prominent early initiatives was his sustained advocacy on the issue of climate change. He pressed the matter repeatedly with world leaders, including with United States President George W. Bush, at a time when the US had not ratified the Kyoto Protocol and remained skeptical of binding international climate commitments. Ban sought to elevate climate change to one of the top priorities of the United Nations system, convening high-level meetings and using his platform to draw attention to the scientific consensus on global warming.

On the issue of the Darfur conflict, Ban played a significant diplomatic role in securing agreement for the deployment of peacekeeping forces to the region. He helped persuade Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to allow peacekeeping troops to enter Sudan, a breakthrough after years of resistance by the Sudanese government to an international military presence in Darfur. The deployment of the joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) was one of the notable diplomatic achievements of Ban's first term.

Ban also addressed a range of other international crises during his first term. In 2008, he spoke on the Cambodian Khmer Rouge tribunal process.[9] He was involved in diplomatic efforts related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including addressing settlement activity.[10] In 2009, he addressed concerns about political detainee trials in Iran.[11]

As Secretary-General, Ban oversaw reforms to UN peacekeeping operations, seeking to improve the effectiveness and accountability of peacekeeping missions deployed around the world. He also initiated reforms to UN employment practices, addressing issues of transparency and efficiency within the organization's bureaucracy.

Re-election and Second Term (2011–2016)

Ban's campaign for re-election to a second term gathered pace in mid-2011.[12] He was confirmed for a second five-year term, which began on January 1, 2012.[13] In March 2012, Ban appointed Jan Eliasson as his Deputy Secretary-General, a key appointment for the administration of the UN system during his second term.[14]

Ban's second term was marked by continued focus on climate change, which culminated in the adoption of the Paris Agreement in December 2015 and its subsequent rapid ratification and entry into force in 2016. The Paris Agreement, which established a global framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global temperature increases, was considered a landmark achievement of multilateral diplomacy. Ban's sustained advocacy and diplomatic efforts to build consensus among nearly 200 nations were recognized as significant contributions to the agreement's realization.

During his second term, Ban also addressed the Syrian civil war, the rise of the Islamic State, the Ebola crisis in West Africa, and the European migrant crisis, among other global challenges. He continued to advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015 as a successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals.

Ban's tenure as Secretary-General concluded on December 31, 2016. On October 13, 2016, the General Assembly appointed António Guterres of Portugal as his successor.[15]

Post-United Nations Career

Following his departure from the United Nations, Ban was considered a potential candidate for the 2017 South Korean presidential election. However, on February 1, 2017, he announced that he would not be running for the presidency.

In September 2017, Ban was elected chair of the International Olympic Committee's Ethics Commission. Also in 2017, he co-founded the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering young people to contribute to global challenges. The organization has established scholarship programs to support the development of future global citizens.[16]

On February 20, 2018, Ban was unanimously elected as president of the Assembly and chair of the council of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), a treaty-based international inter-governmental organization focused on supporting environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive economic growth in developing countries. Under Ban's leadership, GGGI's membership expanded from 27 to 48 member countries and regional integration organizations.

On October 16, 2018, the Global Commission on Adaptation was launched with Ban as co-chair. The commission, which later evolved into the Global Center on Adaptation, focuses on accelerating adaptation action and support for climate-vulnerable communities worldwide.[17]

Ban also took up an academic appointment as Distinguished Chair Professor at Yonsei University's Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment, contributing to research and teaching on global governance and international cooperation.

As a member of The Elders, the independent group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, Ban has continued to advocate for reform of the United Nations system. In June 2025, he co-authored an article with former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark in The Economist, arguing that the dysfunction of the United Nations undermines global security, particularly as traditional champions of multilateralism, including the United States, have retreated from multilateral cooperation and cut funding.[18] In December 2025, Ban called for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations to serve a single, non-renewable seven-year term, arguing that this structural change would enhance the independence and effectiveness of the office.[19]

In July 2025, Ban participated in the Global Health Forum 2025 Beijing Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, delivering remarks at the plenary session alongside Chinese officials.[20] In October 2025, he met with European Union Ambassador Martin Selmayr during the FAO's World Food Forum in Rome to discuss global food security issues.[21]

Personal Life

Ban Ki-moon has three children. He has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to many international public figures of comparable stature. His family's experience during the Korean War, when the United Nations played a role in their survival, has been a recurring theme in his public remarks about the importance of the organization. In a 2025 newsletter for The Elders, Ban reflected on this personal connection, stating that the UN had saved his family and calling for the courage to save the institution in return.[22]

Ban's identity as the first Secretary-General from East Asia since U Thant of Burma (Myanmar), who served from 1961 to 1971, was noted at the time of his election. His appointment was seen as significant for South Korea's international standing and for the representation of the Asia-Pacific region in global leadership positions.

Recognition

Ban Ki-moon received numerous recognitions during and after his tenure as Secretary-General. In 2013, he was named the world's 32nd most powerful person on the Forbes list of The World's Most Powerful People, the highest ranking among South Korean citizens at that time. In 2014, he was ranked the third most powerful South Korean, after Samsung Group leaders Lee Kun-hee and Lee Jae-yong.

In 2016, Foreign Policy magazine named Ban one of its Top 100 Global Thinkers, recognizing his role in helping the Paris Agreement on climate change to be ratified and enter into force less than a year after its adoption — a notably rapid timeline for an international treaty of such scope.

Ban's work on climate change has been recognized as one of the defining aspects of his tenure at the United Nations. His persistent advocacy, including his willingness to press the issue with reluctant world leaders, contributed to building the political momentum that led to the Paris Agreement.

Legacy

Ban Ki-moon's legacy is closely associated with the advancement of climate change as a central issue in international diplomacy. His decade at the helm of the United Nations saw the issue move from one among many agenda items to a priority of the organization's work, culminating in the Paris Agreement. His ability to maintain focus on the issue across two terms, through changing geopolitical circumstances and amid numerous other global crises, is considered a defining feature of his tenure.

His record on peacekeeping reform and UN institutional reform drew mixed assessments. While he initiated changes to employment practices and peacekeeping operations, critics noted the ongoing challenges faced by UN missions and the difficulty of reforming a large, decentralized bureaucracy. His diplomatic style, often described as cautious and consensus-oriented, was praised by some as appropriate for an institution dependent on member-state cooperation and criticized by others as insufficiently assertive on human rights and governance issues.

Since leaving office, Ban has continued to shape discussions about the future of the United Nations and multilateral governance. His December 2025 proposal for a single, non-renewable seven-year term for future Secretaries-General reflects his continued engagement with questions of institutional reform.[23] His advocacy through The Elders, the Global Green Growth Institute, and the Global Center on Adaptation has kept him engaged in global policy debates on climate adaptation, sustainable development, and the reform of international institutions.

Ban's trajectory from a child displaced by war in Korea to the head of the world's foremost international organization has been cited as emblematic of the broader story of South Korea's transformation in the second half of the twentieth century, from a war-ravaged nation dependent on international assistance to a major global actor contributing leadership to the multilateral system.

References

  1. ↑ "The UN saved my family, now we must find the courage to save it".The Elders.June 3, 2025.https://theelders.org/news/un-saved-my-family-now-we-must-find-courage-save-it.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "The UN saved my family, now we must find the courage to save it".The Elders.June 3, 2025.https://theelders.org/news/un-saved-my-family-now-we-must-find-courage-save-it.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Ban Ki-moon Profile".Asia Source.http://www.asiasource.org/news/special_reports/kimoon.cfm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon Speech at Asia Society".Asia Society.http://www.asiasociety.org/speeches/06ny_ban.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon Campaigns for UN Secretary-General".The Korea Times.February 14, 2006.http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200602/kt2006021416334111990.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon Campaigns for UN Secretary-General".The Korea Times.February 14, 2006.http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200602/kt2006021416334111990.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Shashi Tharoor pulls out of UN race".NDTV.http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/shashi-tharoor-pulls-out-of-un-race/7904.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon elected Secretary-General".CBC News.December 14, 2006.http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/herland/20061214.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "UN and Pol Pot tribunal".CNN.April 15, 2008.http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/15/un.pol.pot/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Israel-Palestinian settlement issues".CNN.March 10, 2008.http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/10/israel.palestinian.settlement/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Iran detainee trials".CNN.August 8, 2009.http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/08/08/iran.detainee.trials/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon re-election campaign gathers pace".Hürriyet Daily News.June 5, 2011.http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=ban-ki-moon-reelection-campaign-gathers-pace-2011-06-05.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon re-election supported".Xinhua.June 6, 2011.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-06/06/c_13913806.htm.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Jan Eliasson Named Deputy Secretary-General".PassBlue.March 4, 2012.http://passblue.com/2012/03/04/jan-eliasson-named-deputy-secretary-general/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon's record as Secretary-General".UNSG.org.http://www.unsg.org/wordpress/archives/170.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon Foundation Global Citizen Scholarship Program 2026".Opportunity Desk.February 19, 2026.https://opportunitydesk.org/2026/02/19/ban-ki-moon-foundation-global-citizen-scholarship-program-2026/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "H.E. Ban Ki-moon at President Macky Sall's Book Launch in New York".Global Center on Adaptation.September 24, 2025.https://gca.org/news/h-e-ban-ki-moon-at-president-macky-salls-book-launch-in-new-york/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ Ban Ki-moon"The UN's dysfunction undermines global security".The Economist.June 24, 2025.https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2025/06/24/the-uns-dysfunction-undermines-global-security-argue-ban-ki-moon-and-helen-clark.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon calls for single seven-year term for next UN chief".The National.December 15, 2025.https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/2025/12/15/ban-ki-moon-calls-for-single-seven-year-term-for-next-un-chief/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Global Health Forum 2025 Beijing Conference of Boao Forum for Asia".Beijing Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office.October 10, 2025.https://wb.beijing.gov.cn/en/center_for_international_exchanges/headlines/202510/t20251010_4218864.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Ambassador Martin Selmayr meets Ban Ki-Moon".European External Action Service.October 18, 2025.https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/un-rome/ambassador-martin-selmayr-meets-ban-ki-moon-former-secretary-general-united-nations_en.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "The UN saved my family, now we must find the courage to save it".The Elders.June 3, 2025.https://theelders.org/news/un-saved-my-family-now-we-must-find-courage-save-it.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Ban Ki-moon calls for single seven-year term for next UN chief".The National.December 15, 2025.https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/2025/12/15/ban-ki-moon-calls-for-single-seven-year-term-for-next-un-chief/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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