101 Facts About Ban Ki-moon

1.

Ban Ki-moon was the foreign minister of South Korea between 2004 and 2006.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,229
2.

Ban Ki-moon was initially considered to be a long shot for the office of Secretary-General of the United Nations however, he began to campaign for the office in February 2006.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,230
3.

Ban Ki-moon was named the world's 32nd most powerful person by the Forbes list of The World's Most Powerful People in 2013, the highest among South Koreans.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,231
4.

Ban Ki-moon was widely considered to be a potential candidate for the 2017 South Korean presidential election, before announcing, on 1 February, that he would not be running.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,232
5.

On 14 September 2017, Ban Ki-moon was elected chair of the International Olympic Committee's Ethics Commission.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,233
6.

Ban Ki-moon currently serves as the Distinguished Chair Professor at Yonsei University's Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,234
7.

Ban Ki-moon currently serves as co-chair for the Global Center on Adaptation, which is taking forward the commission's work through its programs.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,235
8.

Ban Ki-moon became the first major international diplomat to throw his weight behind the Green New Deal, a nascent effort by the progressive wing of the Democratic Party in the United States to zero out planet-warming emissions and end poverty over the next decade.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,236
9.

Ban Ki-moon was born on 13 June 1944 in the small farming village of Haengchi, Wonnam Township, in Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province in what was then Japanese Korea.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,237
10.

When Ban Ki-moon was six, his family fled to a remote mountainside for much of the Korean War.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,238
11.

Ban Ki-moon has said that, during this time, he met American soldiers.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,239
12.

In secondary school, Ban Ki-moon became a star student, particularly in his studies of the English language.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,240
13.

In 1962, Ban Ki-moon won an essay contest sponsored by the Red Cross and earned a trip to the United States where he lived in San Francisco with a host family for several months.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,241
14.

Ban Ki-moon received a 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.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,242
15.

At Harvard, he studied under Joseph Nye, who remarked that Ban Ki-moon had "a rare combination of analytic clarity, humility and perseverance".

FactSnippet No. 1,375,243
16.

Ban Ki-moon was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of Malta on 22 April 2009.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,244
17.

Ban Ki-moon further received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Washington in October 2009, an honorary degree of Doctor of Law from the University of Cambridge in February 2016, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Loyola Marymount University in April 2016.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,245
18.

In November 2019, Ban Ki-moon received an Honorary Doctorate in Global Peace and Sustainable Development from the National University of Malaysia.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,246
19.

Ban Ki-moon joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 1970 and worked his way up the career ladder during the years of the Yusin Constitution.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,247
20.

Ban Ki-moon reportedly accepted a posting to India rather than the United States, because in India he would be able to save more money to send to his family.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,248
21.

In 1980, Ban Ki-moon became director of the United Nations' International Organizations and Treaties Bureau, headquartered in Seoul.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,249
22.

Ban Ki-moon was promoted to the position of Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations in 1995 and then appointed National Security Advisor to the President in 1996.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,250
23.

Ban Ki-moon was appointed Ambassador to Austria and Slovenia in 1998, and a year later he was elected as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Ki-moon Treaty Organization .

FactSnippet No. 1,375,251
24.

Ban Ki-moon was unemployed for the only time in his career and was expecting to receive an assignment to work in a remote and unimportant embassy.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,252
25.

In 2004, Ban Ki-moon replaced the resigning Yoon Young-kwan as foreign minister of South Korea under president Roh Moo-hyun.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,253
26.

At the beginning of his term, Ban Ki-moon was faced with two major crises: in June 2004 Kim Sun-il, a South Korean working as an Arabic translator, was kidnapped and killed in Iraq by Islamic extremists; and in December 2004 dozens of Koreans died in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,254
27.

Ban Ki-moon survived scrutiny from lawmakers and saw an upturn in his popularity when talks began with North Korea.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,255
28.

Ban Ki-moon became actively involved in issues relating to North-South Korean relationships.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,256
29.

For example, Ban Ki-moon became the first senior South Korean minister to travel to the Republic of the Congo since its independence in 1960.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,257
30.

In February 2006, Ban Ki-moon declared his candidacy to replace Kofi Annan as UN Secretary-General at the end of 2006, becoming the first South Korean to run for the office.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,258
31.

Ban Ki-moon was popular in Washington for having pushed to send South Korean troops to Iraq, and had the support of the Bush administration as he pursued the position.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,259
32.

Ban Ki-moon said during his campaign that he would like to visit North Korea in person to meet with Kim Jong-il directly.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,260
33.

Ban Ki-moon was viewed as a stark contrast from Kofi Annan, who was considered charismatic, but perceived as a weak manager because of problems surrounding the UN's oil-for-food program in Iraq.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,261
34.

Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly acknowledged his limitations at French, but assured French diplomats that he was devoted to continuing his study.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,262
35.

On 23 January 2007 Ban Ki-moon took office as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,263
36.

Ban Ki-moon's statements contradicted long-standing United Nations opposition to the death penalty as a human-rights concern.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,264
37.

Ban Ki-moon quickly clarified his stance in the case of Barzan al-Tikriti and Awad al-Bandar, two top officials who were convicted of the deaths of 148 Shia Muslims in the Iraqi village of Dujail in the 1980s.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,265
38.

Ban Ki-moon has received strong criticism from the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services, which stated that the secretariat under Ban Ki-moon's leadership was "drifting into irrelevance".

FactSnippet No. 1,375,266
39.

Ban Ki-moon appointed Sir John Holmes, the British Ambassador to France, as Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and coordinator of emergency relief.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,267
40.

Ban Ki-moon initially said that he would delay making other appointments until his first round of reforms were approved, yet later abandoned this idea after receiving criticism.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,268
41.

Appointment of many women to top jobs was seen as fulfilling a campaign promise Ban Ki-moon had made to increase the role of women in the United Nations.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,269
42.

Ban Ki-moon's proposals were met with stiff resistance from members of the UN General Assembly who bristled under Ban's request for rapid approval.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,270
43.

The proposed merger of the disarmament and political affairs offices was criticized by many in the developing world, partially because of rumours that Ban hoped to place American B Lynn Pascoe in charge of the new office.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,271
44.

Ban Ki-moon nevertheless pressed ahead with reforms on job requirements at the UN requiring that all positions be considered five-year appointments, all receive strict annual performance reviews, and all financial disclosures be made public.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,272
45.

UN observers were eager to see on which issues Ban Ki-moon intended to focus, in addition to his declared interest in reforming the United Nations bureaucracy.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,273
46.

Ban Ki-moon referenced the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, and refused the motion.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,274
47.

Ban Ki-moon rejected the request, stating that Resolution 2758 defined Taiwan as part of China.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,275
48.

In September 2014, Ban Ki-moon joined demonstrators in the People's Climate March in New York City, and called together world leaders for the UN Climate Summit, in preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris in late 2015.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,276
49.

On Thursday, 22 March 2007, while Ban Ki-moon was taking part in the first stop of a tour of the Middle East, a mortar attack hit just 80 meters from where the Secretary-General was standing, interrupting a press conference in Baghdad's Green Zone, and visibly shaking Ban Ki-moon and others.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,277
50.

Ban Ki-moon said that he still hoped to find a way for the United Nations to "do more for Iraqi social and political development".

FactSnippet No. 1,375,278
51.

Ban Ki-moon criticized Israel on 10 March 2008 for planning to build housing units in a West Bank settlement, saying the decision conflicts with "Israel's obligation under the road map" for Middle East peace.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,279
52.

Ban Ki-moon criticized both sides, Israel for bombarding Gaza and Hamas for firing rockets into Israel.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,280
53.

Ban Ki-moon kept silent over the request of Shirin Ebadi to visit Iran after the crackdown on peaceful post-election protests by the Iranian police, which was perceived as a crime against humanity.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,281
54.

Ban Ki-moon however did not take any action to stop the violence in Iran.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,282
55.

Ban Ki-moon frequently spoke out against military action in Libya, believing that a diplomatic solution would be possible and preferable.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,283
56.

Ban Ki-moon took the first foreign trip of his term to attend the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2007 as part of an effort to reach out to the Group of 77.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,284
57.

Ban Ki-moon repeatedly identified Darfur as the top humanitarian priority of his administration.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,285
58.

Ban Ki-moon flew to Myanmar on 25 May 2008 to guide a conference with international agencies aimed at boosting donations for the nation, which was struck by Cyclone Nargis on 2 May 2008.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,286
59.

The conference was initiated after Ban Ki-moon had met with Than Shwe, the leading figure of Myanmar's government 23 May 2008.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,287
60.

Ban Ki-moon toured the devastation—especially in the hard-hit Irrawaddy Delta—23 May 2008 and 24 May 2008.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,288
61.

On 6 June 2011, Ban Ki-moon formally announced his candidacy for a second consecutive term as Secretary-General of the United Nations.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,289
62.

Ban Ki-moon announced his candidacy at a press conference, following a meeting with the Asian group of countries at the United Nations.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,290
63.

Ban Ki-moon appointed Swedish diplomat Jan Eliasson as his new Deputy Secretary-General on 2 March 2012.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,291
64.

Since beginning his second term in January 2012, Ban Ki-moon has focused his public statements and speeches on peace and equality in the Middle East and on equality issues.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,292
65.

Ban Ki-moon focused in 2012 on what he termed "intolerance" in the Arab world.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,293
66.

On 30 August 2012 Ban Ki-moon criticized the Iranian leadership due to their statements regarding Israel's destruction and denying the Holocaust.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,294
67.

On 16 August 2013, Ban Ki-moon admitted that the UN was biased against Israel, stating in a meeting with Israeli students that there was a biased attitude towards the Israeli people and Israeli government at the UN.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,295
68.

On 26 January 2016, Ban Ki-moon made a statement in relation to the attacks by Palestinians against Israelis.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,296
69.

Ban Ki-moon said that "as oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism".

FactSnippet No. 1,375,297
70.

Ban Ki-moon has criticized Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, saying: "Grave violations against children increased dramatically as a result of the escalating conflict".

FactSnippet No. 1,375,298
71.

In June 2016, Ban Ki-moon removed a Saudi-led coalition from a list of children's rights violators.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,299
72.

Ban Ki-moon later admitted that Saudi Arabia threatened to cut Palestinian aid and funds to other UN programs if coalition was not removed from blacklist for killing children in Yemen.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,300
73.

On 7 March 2012 Ban Ki-moon delivered a speech titled "The Time Has Come" to the United Nations Human Rights Council urging the council to place greater emphasis on combating homophobia and promoting LGBT rights around the world.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,301
74.

Ban Ki-moon has told senior managers that homophobia will not be tolerated.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,302
75.

Ban Ki-moon pointed to countries such as Ukraine which has proposed criminalizing public discussion about homosexuality as threatening basic human rights.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,303
76.

Ban Ki-moon further stated that government has a duty to defend vulnerable minorities.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,304
77.

Ban Ki-moon said that religion, culture or tradition can never justify denial of basic rights.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,305
78.

Ban Ki-moon has been organizing and moderating the Geneva II Conference on Syria.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,306
79.

Nonetheless, according to "some officials" in the Post story, Ban Ki-moon had allegedly gone further, boosting South Korea's presence in UN ranks by more than 20 percent during his first year in office.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,307
80.

Ban Ki-moon said that the South Korean nationals he had appointed—including Choi Young-jin, who had already served as a high-ranking official in the United Nations' peacekeeping department—are highly qualified for their positions.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,308
81.

Former UN Under Secretary General for Oversight Services Inga-Britt Ahlenius denounced Ban Ki-moon after resigning her post in 2010, calling him "reprehensible".

FactSnippet No. 1,375,309
82.

Ban Ki-moon's staff explained that Appleton's appointment was rejected because Ahlenius had not properly considered female candidates for the appointment, and said that the final selection should have been made by Ban Ki-moon, not Ahlenius.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,310
83.

Nambiar further noted that Ban Ki-moon "fully recognizes the operational independence of OIOS, [but that] does not excuse [Ahlenius] from applying the standard rules of recruitment".

FactSnippet No. 1,375,311
84.

American diplomat James Wasserstrom claimed that Ban Ki-moon attempted to limit the jurisdiction of the UN dispute tribunal following Wasserstrom's dismissal from his Kosovo post and lengthy appeals process.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,312
85.

Ban Ki-moon had refused to hand over confidential documents relating to the case to the UN personnel tribunal, despite repeated orders by the court to do so.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,313
86.

In relation to another case, Ban Ki-moon was admonished by Judge Michael Adams for "willful disobedience" for again refusing to hand over key documents in an internal promotions dispute.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,314
87.

In 2013, Ban Ki-moon was accused of undermining collective bargaining rights of The Staff Coordinating Council, the union representing United Nations staff.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,315
88.

Ban Ki-moon unilaterally eliminated the role of the union to negotiate on behalf of the employees and terminated talks when the union protested.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,316
89.

Ban Ki-moon declared that the legal immunity of the United Nations before national courts should be upheld, but that this does not reduce the UN's moral responsibility to overcome Haiti's cholera epidemic.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,317
90.

Until the outbreak of the 2016 South Korean political scandal, Ban Ki-moon was the leading potential candidate for President of South Korea in 2017.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,318
91.

Kim Jong-pil, former Prime Minister of South Korea, was reported to say that Ban Ki-moon would announce his candidacy for the presidency shortly after his term as Secretary-General ends.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,319
92.

Ban Ki-moon was originally predicted to run under the conservative Saenuri Party, but President Park Geun-hye's scandal cast doubts as to which party Ban Ki-moon would run under.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,320
93.

In June 2017, Ban Ki-moon joined The Elders, a human rights group composed of international statesmen that was founded by Nelson Mandela.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,321
94.

In early 2018, Ban Ki-moon was elected to lead the Global Green Growth Institute, a treaty-based intergovernmental organization.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,322
95.

In 2020, Ban Ki-Moon was appointed as the Official Ambassador of the GEMS World Academy Model United Nations.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,323
96.

Ban Ki-moon met Yoo Soon-taek in 1962 when they were both in high school.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,324
97.

Ban Ki-moon was 18 years old, and Yoo Soon-taek was his secondary school's student council president.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,325
98.

Ban Ki-moon's elder daughter, Seon-yong, was born in 1972 and now works for the Korea Foundation in Seoul.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,326
99.

Ban Ki-moon's son Woo-hyun was born in 1974 in India.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,327
100.

Ban Ki-moon received an MBA from Anderson School of Management at University of California, Los Angeles, and works for an investment firm in New York.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,328
101.

Ban Ki-moon's younger daughter, Hyun-hee was born on 1976, and is a field officer for UNICEF in Nairobi.

FactSnippet No. 1,375,329