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'''Ban Ki-moon''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA pronunciation]]: {{IPA|[pɑn gi mun]}}), born [[13 June]] [[1944]]) has served as [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea|Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] of the [[South Korea|Republic of Korea]] (South Korea) since January 2004. He received his Bachelor’s degree in [[International relations]] from [[Seoul National University]] in 1970 and earned a [[Master of Public Administration]] from the [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] at [[Harvard University]] in 1985.
'''Ban Ki-moon''' ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA pronunciation]]: {{IPA|[pɑn gi mun]}}; born [[June 13]], [[1944]]) is a [[South Korea]]n [[diplomat]]. Ban is currently the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea|Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] of South Korea, a position he has held since January 2004. He has been recommended as [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]] by the [[United Nations Security Council]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20174&Cr=&Cr1=Secretary%20General|title=Security Council recommends South Korean Foreign Minister Ban as Secretary-General|accessdate=2006-10-09}}</ref> and is almost certain to succeed [[Kofi Annan]] on [[1 January]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/10/09/newannan.html|title=UN Security Council nominates South Korean to replace Annan|publisher=''[[CBC]]''|accessdate=2006-10-09}}</ref>


==Education==
He has been recommended as [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]] by the [[United Nations Security Council]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20174&Cr=&Cr1=Secretary%20General|title=Security Council recommends South Korean Foreign Minister Ban as Secretary-General|accessdate=2006-10-09}}</ref> and is almost certain to succeed [[Kofi Annan]] on [[1 January]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/10/09/newannan.html|title=UN Security Council nominates South Korean to replace Annan|publisher=''[[CBC]]''|accessdate=2006-10-09}}</ref>
Ban recceived his [[bachelor's degree]] in [[international relations]] from [[Seoul National University]] in 1970 and earned a [[Master of Public Administration]] from the [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] at [[Harvard University]] in 1985.


==Personal==
==Personal==
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According to the newspaper ''[[Washington Post]],'' "rivals have privately grumbled that South Korea, which has the world's 11th-largest economy, has wielded its economic might to generate support for his candidacy". Ban reportedly has said that these insinuations are "groundless". In an interview on [[17 September]] [[2006]] he reportedly stated: "As front-runner, I know that I can become a target of this very scrutinizing process" and "I am a man of integrity."<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092801765.html</ref>
According to the newspaper ''[[Washington Post]],'' "rivals have privately grumbled that South Korea, which has the world's 11th-largest economy, has wielded its economic might to generate support for his candidacy". Ban reportedly has said that these insinuations are "groundless". In an interview on [[17 September]] [[2006]] he reportedly stated: "As front-runner, I know that I can become a target of this very scrutinizing process" and "I am a man of integrity."<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092801765.html</ref>


Although not directly a criticism of Ban Ki-Moon, there has also been concern{{cn|Who expressed this 'concern'?}} over the appointment of Kyung-wha Kang, Ban's [[campaign manager]], as [[United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|deputy high commissioner for human rights]], an assistant secretary-general-level position, with only weeks left in Kofi Annan's term.<ref>http://www.nysun.com/article/40249</ref>
Although not directly a criticism of Ban Ki-Moon, there has also been concern{{cn|Who expressed this 'concern'?}} over the appointment of Kyung-wha Kang, Ban's [[campaign manager]], as [[United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights]], an assistant secretary-general-level position, with only weeks left in Kofi Annan's term.<ref>http://www.nysun.com/article/40249</ref>


Within Korea, Ban’s nickname is Ban-''chusa'', which may be loosely translated as “administrative clerk.”
Within Korea, Ban’s nickname is Ban-''chusa'', which may be loosely translated as “administrative clerk.”

Revision as of 03:59, 11 October 2006

Template:Koreanname

Ban Ki-moon (IPA pronunciation: [pɑn gi mun]; born June 13, 1944) is a South Korean diplomat. Ban is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea, a position he has held since January 2004. He has been recommended as Secretary-General of the United Nations by the United Nations Security Council[1] and is almost certain to succeed Kofi Annan on 1 January 2007.[2]

Education

Ban recceived his bachelor's degree in international relations from Seoul National University in 1970 and earned a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985.

Personal

Ban is married and has a son and two daughters.[3] He identifies himself as a non-denominational Christian.[4]

Ban is fluent in English and French.

Career

Ban's first overseas posting was to New Delhi, India. After working in the United Nations Division at headquarters, he served as First Secretary at the Permanent Observer Mission of South Korea to the UN in New York City. He subsequently assumed the post of Director of the United Nations Division. He has been posted twice to the ROK Embassy in Washington D.C. Between these two assignments he served as Director-General for American Affairs in 1990-1992. He was promoted to the position of Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations in 1995. He was then appointed National Security Advisor to the President in 1996, and assumed the office of Vice Minister in 2000. His most recent post was as Foreign Policy Advisor to the President Roh Moo-hyun.

While serving as Ambassador to Austria, Ban was elected as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO PrepCom) in 1999. During the ROK’s Presidency of the 56th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (GA) in 2001, he worked as Chef de Cabinet of the President of the GA.

Ban has been actively involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relations. In 1992, he served as Vice Chairman of the South-North Joint Nuclear Control Commission, following the adoption by South and North Korea of the Joint Declaration of the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In September 2005, as Foreign Minister, he played a leading role in the diplomatic efforts to adopt the Joint Statement on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue at the Fourth Round of the Six-Party Talks held in Beijing, China.

UN Secretary-General candidacy

In February 2006, Ban declared his candidacy to replace Kofi Annan as UN Secretary-General at the end of 2006. It is the first time a South Korean has run in the election for Secretary-General.[5]

Ban topped each of the four straw polls conducted by the UN Security Council on 24 July,[6] 14 September,[7] 28 September[8] and 2 October. [9]

In the 2 October informal poll, Ban received fourteen favorable votes and one "no opinion" from the fifteen Security Council member body, the Japanese delegation only not in full agreement. More importantly, Ban was the only one to escape a veto, while each of the five other candidates received at least one "no" vote from the five permanent members of the council — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[10] After the vote, Shashi Tharoor, who finished second, withdrew his candidacy[11] and China's Permanent Representative to the UN told reporters that "it is quite clear from today's straw poll that Minister Ban Ki-moon is the candidate that the Security Council will recommend to the General Assembly."[12]

On 9 October, the Security Council formally chose Ban as its nominee. His appointment will take effect after the 192 member General Assembly gives final approval.

Criticism

As the election of the successor to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan draws closer there has been rising criticism of the South Korean campaign on Ban's behalf. Specifically, his alleged practice[citation needed] of systematically visiting all member states of the UN Security Council in his role as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to secure votes in his support by signing trade deals with European countries and pledging foreign aid to developing countries, are the focus of some news articles and political blogs.[13][14][15][16]

According to the newspaper Washington Post, "rivals have privately grumbled that South Korea, which has the world's 11th-largest economy, has wielded its economic might to generate support for his candidacy". Ban reportedly has said that these insinuations are "groundless". In an interview on 17 September 2006 he reportedly stated: "As front-runner, I know that I can become a target of this very scrutinizing process" and "I am a man of integrity."[17]

Although not directly a criticism of Ban Ki-Moon, there has also been concern[citation needed] over the appointment of Kyung-wha Kang, Ban's campaign manager, as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, an assistant secretary-general-level position, with only weeks left in Kofi Annan's term.[18]

Within Korea, Ban’s nickname is Ban-chusa, which may be loosely translated as “administrative clerk.” This appellation is used by Ban’s supporters and opponents alike, but the latter intend to hint at a “lack of charisma and a supposed willingness to bend to the will of his superiors,” as well as his personality, which they perceive to be uninspiring. [19]

Pressreports alleges Ban is a member of the Unification Church [20] due to the fact that he stated his religious affiliation as "non-denominational Christian."

Awards

Ban has twice been awarded the Order of Service Merit in 1975 and 1986 by the Government of the Republic of Korea. For his accomplishments as an envoy, he received the Grand Decoration of Honor from the Republic of Austria in 2001. A year later, the government of Brazil bestowed the Grand Cross of Rio Branco upon him. In September 2005, the Korea Society in New York honored him with the Van Fleet Award for his contributions to US-ROK friendship.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Security Council recommends South Korean Foreign Minister Ban as Secretary-General". Retrieved 2006-10-09.
  2. ^ "UN Security Council nominates South Korean to replace Annan". CBC. Retrieved 2006-10-09. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Biography of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade". Republic of Korea - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 2006-09-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Ban Ki-moon, Christian diplomat, to lead UN". AsiaNews.it. Retrieved 2006-10-07. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Song-wu, Park (2006-02-14). "Minister Ban to Run for Top UN Job". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2006-09-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Ban takes 1st Straw Poll". UNSG.org. 2006-07-24. Retrieved 2006-09-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Ban firms up lead in second Straw Poll". UNSG.org. 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2006-09-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Ban slips but holds, Vike Freiberga pushes into third". UNSG.org. 2006-09-28. Retrieved 2006-09-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Ban Ki-moon wins". UNSG.org. 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2006-10-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Ban vows to reform U.N. if given top job". [1]. 2006-10-03. Retrieved 2006-10-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Shashi Tharoor pulls out of UN race". NDTV.com. 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2006-10-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/sc/so061002pm3.rm
  13. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25689-2380336,00.html
  14. ^ http://www.unsg.org/wordpress/archives/165
  15. ^ http://chapter15.wordpress.com/2006/06/01/ban-passing-out-more-cash/
  16. ^ online.wsj.com
  17. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092801765.html
  18. ^ http://www.nysun.com/article/40249
  19. ^ "The UN's new secretary-general". The Economist. Retrieved 2006-10-05.
  20. ^ "Gehört der künftige UN-Generalsekretär zur Mun-Sekte?]". IDEA. Retrieved 2006-10-09.
  21. ^ "Samsung Chairman Lee Receives Van Fleet Award". KBS World. 2006-09-20. Retrieved 2006-09-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)

External links

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