15 Facts About Kitack Lim

Kitack Lim is the current Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization.

Kitack Lim completed a degree in nautical science at the Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, graduating in 1977.

Kitack Lim then joined the Republic of Korea Navy and worked on ships as a deck officer, later working for Sanko Shipping Co.

Kitack Lim then attended the World Maritime University, graduating with a master's degree in maritime administration with a major in navigation.

Kitack Lim began attending IMO meetings as part of the South Korean delegation in 1986, participating in maritime safety and environmental protection issues.

Between 2006 and August 2009, Kitack Lim served as Maritime Attache and minister-counsellor at the Embassy of South Korea, London, leading all IMO work for South Korea, including serving as Deputy Permanent Representative.

Kitack Lim was then appointed as Director General for Maritime Safety Policy Bureau at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs in South Korea.

In March 2011, Kitack Lim was appointed Commissioner of the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal.

Kitack Lim served as President of the Port Authority until the end of July 2015.

In December 2015, Kitack Lim was unanimously endorsed in his confirmation to become Secretary-General of the IMO.

In June 2017, Kitack Lim announced the 'Day of the Seafarer' celebrations, with a recorded video message.

In 2018, Kitack Lim was re-elected to serve another four year term as Secretary-General from January 2020, concurrent after his first term.

In 2020, Kitack Lim highlighted the need to protect seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2022, Kitack Lim visited the Black Sea to see ships and seafarers in the IMO humanitarian corridor, related to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Kitack Lim has stated that his favourite song is Delilah by Tom Jones and that his favourite film is The Father.