Who is Ban Ki-Moon?

2006-10-10 15:40

Seoul - Ban Ki-Moon, whose nomination to be the next UN chief coincided with North Korea's momentous nuclear test, is a mild-mannered career diplomat who rose to prominence talking tough on Pyongyang.

The 62-year-old South Korean foreign minister, who dominated four informal straw polls, was the only candidate left standing for the coveted role of United Nations secretary general after the six other contenders withdrew.

With strong support in the 15-member UN security council, his official nomination for the job was little more than a formality when the world body met on Monday in New York.

Vote later in October

There is little doubt either that he will be approved as Kofi Annan's successor when his nomination goes to the general assembly for consideration.

The 192-member assembly is likely to schedule a vote later this month, and the United States called on Monday for rapid approval of the South Korean amid turmoil over Pyongyang's underground test of an atomic weapon.

'Heavy heart'

In Seoul, rather than expressing jubilation at his selection, Ban struck a sombre note.

"This should be a moment of joy. But instead, I stand here with a very heavy heart," Ban told a press conference late on Monday in the wake of North Korea's announced nuclear test.

"Despite the concerted warning from the international community, North Korea has gone ahead with a nuclear test," he said.

'Iron-hand-in-the-velvet-glove person'

Once approved, Ban will take office next January after Annan, a Ghanaian, steps down at the end of two five-year terms.

"Minister Ban is a kind of iron-hand-in-the-velvet-glove person at work," said Ko Ki-Seok, a foreign ministry spokesperson who also termed him a "people person" concerned about staff welfare.

Ban himself has acknowledged that he may be seen as too soft for the world's toughest diplomatic post.

"I may look soft from the outside but I have inner strength when it's really necessary. I've always been very decisive," he told AFP.

"In Asian countries humility is regarded as a virtue. Soft-speaking should in no way be regarded as a lack of leadership or commitment."

Ban is resolute and energetic in getting things done, according to foreign ministry officials.

"He was born healthy," said Ko. "He never fails in his killing work schedule that divides each day into a schedule of five minutes at a time."

Reforms

Ban says he wants to channel that determination into reforms to make the world body leaner and more efficient.

He told AFP before North Korea's nuclear test that the most urgent issue confronting the UN was "management reform, regaining the trust and confidence of member states and major stakeholders."

Ban said its activities are overstretched because of the ineffective delivery of some services. "We need to consolidate, co-ordinate, reduce the overlap between agencies.

"The UN needs to promise less and deliver more."

Career

Ban, in office for 33 months, is one of South Korea's longer-serving foreign ministers - surviving the sometimes turbulent diplomacy on the divided Korean peninsula.

Ban has always been proud of his 36-year career in the foreign service, which has included 10 years on UN-related missions.

He became a diplomat in 1970 after graduating from the prestigious Seoul National University and doing postgraduate studies at Harvard University's Kennedy school of government.

Ban had a stint as first secretary at South Korea's UN mission from 1978 to 1980 and was director of the foreign ministry's UN division until 1983.

He served as South Korea's chief envoy to the UN for two years from 2001 and also led the cabinet of the president of the 56th UN general assembly.

Ban became foreign minister in January 2004 after a spell as chief presidential foreign policy advisor during a period of tension over North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Talks with North Korea

He was deeply involved in six-nation talks aimed at persuading the North to give up its nuclear weapons and some have raised questions about why Pyongyang timed the nuclear test on the very day he was named for the prestigious UN post.

Ban has also had to calm periodic turbulence in South Korea's alliance with the United States and handle deteriorating ties with Japan.

He is married to his high-school sweetheart, Yoo Soon-Taek, and they have one son and two daughters. The eldest daughter is working for Unicef in Africa.

- AFP