Ban Ki-moon

8th Secretary-General of the United Nations · South Korea · Politicians · Born 1944 · age 82

Read more often than usual, most of all on 13 October.

4.3 times the usual readers on 13 October. 5,586 readers on 13 October, against about 1,305 a day before the rise.

He ran the United Nations for ten years, steering peacekeeping reforms and pushing George W. Bush on climate policy when few others could get in the room. A foreign minister who turned a long-shot bid into the top diplomatic post on earth.

Politicians Politician Politics Literature Diplomacy South Korea Asia 20th Century

A life in dates

2026Honorary Doctorate from Sorbonne UniversityAward2023“As a country with similar experiences and foundations, Korea will work side-by-side with Rwanda and the world toward a better future by achieving what Kwibuka teaches us.”In their words7 April 2023South Korea commemorates Genocide against the Tutsi. The New Times. (7 April 2023)Read the whole statement

“Over the past 29 years, Rwandans have demonstrated strong resilience in overcoming the greatest tragedies and, in the process, have inspired the rest of the world.”In their words7 April 2023South Korea commemorates Genocide against the Tutsi. The New Times. (7 April 2023)Read the whole statement

2018Honorary Doctor of the University of BordeauxAward2017Chairperson of the Ethics Commission of the International Olympic CommitteeOffice2016Collar of the Spanish Order of the Civil MeritAwardHonorary Doctor of the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-SorbonneAwardHonorary Doctorate from Columbia UniversityAward2015“When we stand together, there is no limit to what we can achieve. Three days ago, young people from many nations stood together in the balcony of this Hall.”In their words28 September 2015; Speech at 70th UN General AssemblyRead the whole statement

Honorary Doctor of the Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenAward2014“[Conchita Wurst] She is an incredible singer and entertainer.”In their words3 November 2014; Remarks at Meeting with Conchita WurstRead the whole statement

Honorary Doctor of the University of AucklandAwardMedal of Honor of the Congress of the Republic of PeruAwardTipperary International Peace AwardAward2013Distinguished SNU MembersAward2011“Our world is one of terrible contradictions. Plenty of food but one billion people go hungry. Lavish lifestyles for a few, but poverty for too many others.”In their wordsOctober 2011October 2011; Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARYRead the whole statement

Medal of the Oriental Republic of UruguayAward2010Honorary doctor at the Nanjing UniversityAward2007United Nations Secretary-GeneralOffice2007-20172004James A. Van Fleet AwardAwardForeign minister of South KoreaOffice2004-20062001Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaAward1944Born13 June 1944

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Ban Ki-moon 1-2

Adam Krzymowski with Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon (01911820) (51436174238)

Ban Ki-Moon and Tom Lantos

Ban Ki-moon Dubai visit

Ban Ki-moon Receives Brac University Crest From President Abdul Hamid, Dhaka, 2019-11-23 (PID-0035819)

Ban Ki-moon, 1953-54, Chungju Kyohyun Public Elementary School

Ban Ki-moon, 1960, Chungju Middle School yearbook photo 2

In their own words 7

Ban Ki-moon

7 statements, newest first

As a country with similar experiences and foundations, Korea will work side-by-side with Rwanda and the world toward a better future by achieving what Kwibuka teaches us.
Apr 7, 2023, South Korea commemorates Genocide against the Tutsi. The New Times. (7 April 2023), Own words
Over the past 29 years, Rwandans have demonstrated strong resilience in overcoming the greatest tragedies and, in the process, have inspired the rest of the world.
Apr 7, 2023, South Korea commemorates Genocide against the Tutsi. The New Times. (7 April 2023), Own words
When we stand together, there is no limit to what we can achieve. Three days ago, young people from many nations stood together in the balcony of this Hall.
Sep 28, 2015, 28 September 2015; Speech at 70th UN General Assembly, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Honorary Doctorate from Sorbonne University2026

Honorary Doctor of the University of Bordeaux2018

Order of Friendship2016

Collar of the Spanish Order of the Civil Merit2016

Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany2016

Honorary Doctorate from Columbia University2016

Honorary Doctor of the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne2016

Honorary Doctor of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven2015

Honorary Doctor of Comenius University2015

Humanitarian of the Year2014

Medal of Honor of the Congress of the Republic of Peru2014

Honorary Doctor of the University of Auckland2014

Tipperary International Peace Award2014

Distinguished SNU Members2013

Gold Olympic Order2012

Medal of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay2011

Dostyk Order of grade I2010

Honorary doctor at the Nanjing University2010

James A. Van Fleet Award2004

Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria2001

Emblem of Unity

Honorary Doctorate of the National University of San Marcos

Order of Rio Branco

Order of Sikatuna

Order of Ismoili Somoni

National Order of Burkina Faso

National Order of the Ivory Coast

Order of José Matías Delgado

National Order of Madagascar

Order of the Liberator General San Martín

Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru

Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour

Honorary Doctor of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations

Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty

Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour

Order of Merit for Distinguished Services

Order of Saint-Charles

Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion

Order of Civil Merit

About this person

Born 13 June 1944 in South Korea, Ban Ki-moon served as foreign minister from 2004 to 2006 before launching an improbable campaign for UN secretary-general in early 2006. He visited every Security Council member state and turned front-runner fast. Elected 13 October 2006, he took office 1 January 2007 and spent the next decade overhauling peacekeeping operations, pressing Sudan's Omar al-Bashir to accept troops in Darfur, and lobbying Bush relentlessly on global warming. Forbes ranked him the 32nd most powerful person in the world in 2013. He helped push the Paris Agreement to ratification in under a year, earning a spot on Foreign Policy's Top 100 Global Thinkers in 2016. He left office 31 December 2016, flirted briefly with a South Korean presidential run, then pivoted to climate work: chairing the IOC Ethics Commission, co-founding the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, leading the Global Green Growth Institute, and co-chairing the Global Commission on Adaptation alongside Bill Gates. He became the first major international diplomat to back the Green New Deal.

Country

South Korea

Politicians from South Korea 6

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