Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
| Born | 1944. 6. 13 |
|---|---|
| Country | South Korea |
| Awarded for | Leadership striving for a sustainable earth Negotiation of the Paris Agreement, Proposal of the Sustainable Development Goals, Enhancement of gender equality |
| Co-laureate |
Ban Ki-moon became the first South Korean to become the UN Secretary-General in 2006, successfully serving two terms and contributing greatly to peace. During his 10-year tenure, Ban led the United Nations to address the unprecedented global challenges and crises, including the global economic crisis, climate change, terrorism, and refugee issues. As a leader of world peace, he prepared global measures against climate change, adopted an agenda for sustainable development, presented a new vision to the world, and contributed greatly to the promotion of human rights, including gender equality.
Education
- • Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (USA)
- • Bachelor’s degree in international relations from Seoul National University (South Korea)
Honarary Degrees
- • Honorary Doctorate, University of Maryland (UMCP)
- • Honorary Doctorate, Loyola Marymount University (USA)
- • Honorary Doctorate of Law, Cambridge University (England)
- • Honorary Doctorate in Women's Studies, Ewha Womans University (South Korea)
- • Honorary Doctorate, Nanjing University (China)
- • Honorary Doctorate, Moscow State Institute of International Relations (Russia)
- • Honorary Doctorate, Bordeaux University (France)
- • Honorary Doctorate, Fairleigh Dickinson University (USA)
- • Honorary Doctorate of Diplomacy, Seoul National University (South Korea)
- • Honorary Doctorate, National University (Singapore)
Professional Background
- 2019-Present Chair of the Presidential Committee on the National Council to deal with Particulate Matter
- 2019-Present Board Chairman, Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future
- 2018-Present Deputy Chair of the Elders
- 2018-Present Chair of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
- 2018-Present Co-Chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens
- 2018-Present Chair of the Boao Forum for Asia
- 2017-Present Chair of the International Olympic Committee’s Ethics Commission (IOC)
- 2017-Present Honorary President of Yonsei University's Global Social Contribution Institute and Ban Ki-moon Center for Sustainable Development
- 2007-2016 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
- 2004-2006 33rd Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of South Korea
- 2003-2004 Foreign Policy Advisor at the Presidential Office
- 2002 Ambassador to the Foreign Ministry
- 2001-2003 Chief of Staff to the 56th President of the UN General Assembly
- 2000- 2001 Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- 1998-2000 Ambassador to Austria and Ambassador to the International Organizations in Vienna
- 1996 Presidential Secretary for Protocol
- 1996 First Vice Foreign Minister
- 1996 Presidential Secretary for Foreign Affairs and National Security
- 1996 Chief Foreign Policy Officer
- 1995 Director-General for Foreign Policy Planning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- 1992Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 1990 Director-General of the Foreign Ministry's Bureau of American Affairs
- 1987 Consul General, Embassy to the U.S.
- 1985 Secretary of State for Protocol at the Prime Minister's Office
- 1980 Chief of United Nations Division and the Department of Foreign Affairs
- 1976 First Secretary, Embassy to India
- 1970 Entry into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Awards
- 2017 Order of Civil Merit Mugunghwa Medal
- 2016 100 Leading Global Thinkers (Foreign Policy Magazine)
- 2016 Legion of Honour (French President)
- 2015 Republic of Korea Red Cross Humanitarian Award
- 2014 Tipperary International Peace Award (Republic of Ireland)
- 2014 Humanitarian of the Year (Harvard Foundation)
- 2014 Distinguished Seoul National University Award
- 2012 11th Seoul Peace Prize
- 2012 Distiniguished International Leadership Award (Atlantic Council)
- 2010 UCLA Medal
- 2009 Order of Civil Merit Mugunghwa Medal
- 2009 Sustainable Development Leadership Award (New Delhi Summit)
- 2008 Grand Cross of the Order of Sikatuna (Philippines)
- 2008 Rotary International Award of Honor
- 2007 9th Gwanak Grand Prize Honor Sector (Seoul National University)
- 2007 First Innovation Award (Pony Chung Foundation)
- 2006 Magazine's Person of the Year Award
- 2006 Order of Service Merit (Government of South Korea)
- 2006 Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun (Peru)
- 2004 James A. Van Fleet Award (Korea Society)
- 2002 Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco (Brazil)
- 2001 Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star (Austria)
- 1986 Order of the Red Star (Merit of Service, Korea)
- 1975 Nokjogunjeong Medal of Honor (4th class, Merit of Service, Korea)
Recognitions
- 2016 Top 100 Global thinkers (Foreign Policy Magazine)
- 2013 #32 World’s most powerful people (Forbes Magazine)
Successful implementation of global action on climate change through the Paris Agreement
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon played a pivotal role in concluding the Paris Agreement, a global measure against climate change. The Paris Agreement on climate change adopted in 2015 is a revolutionary climate agreement in which 197 countries join in committing to curbing greenhouse gas emissions within this century, with a comprehensive long-term goal of eliminating man-made greenhouse gas production.
Ban displayed remarkable leadership behind-the-scenes, covering the distance from the North to the South Pole, traveling all over the world, urging world leaders to make the decision to successfully implement the historical climate agreement where all countries, rich or poor, can join the fight against climate change.
Furthermore, Ban succeeded in lobbying 55 countries for the agreement to take effect in less than a year. His efforts led Foreign Policy, a prominent American news publication which focuses on global affairs, to select Ban as one of the 100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2016.
Ban displayed remarkable leadership behind-the-scenes, covering the distance from the North to the South Pole, traveling all over the world, urging world leaders to make the decision to successfully implement the historical climate agreement where all countries, rich or poor, can join the fight against climate change.
Furthermore, Ban succeeded in lobbying 55 countries for the agreement to take effect in less than a year. His efforts led Foreign Policy, a prominent American news publication which focuses on global affairs, to select Ban as one of the 100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2016.
Presentation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the master plan for the future mutual prosperity of humankind
In the 70th Regular Session of the UN General Assembly, Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented and gained the unanimous adoption of the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’, a master plan to realize mutual prosperity of humankind by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals, consisting of 17 areas for sustainable development of the global community, is a comprehensive and global cooperation agenda for countries to alleviate common threats to sustainable development such as polarization of the economy and society, social inequality, and the destruction of the global environment, also including the UN’s typical tasks such as fighting poverty and ending hunger. Ban drew as much participation and consensus as possible from the heads of state to adopt the development agenda to create a world in which no one is left behind, breaking the distinction between developed and developing countries.
Promotion of gender equality and human rights
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made it an important task to advance the fundamental human rights of mankind from the early days of his tenure, especially the promotion of women rights and gender equality. In 2010, Ban launched the UN Women by integrating several committees related to women’s rights registered in the UN. He also promoted women’s rights by launching initiatives and campaigns such as ‘UNiTE to End Violence against Women’, ‘Stop Rape Now’, ‘Network of Men Leaders’, and ‘Special Representatives on Sexual Violence in Conflict’.
Awarding of Medal and Plaque to Ban Ki-moon
Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon is presenting the medal to Ban Ki-moon
ⓒ 2020. Sunhak Peace Prize
Committee Chairman Dr. Il Sik Hong is presenting a plaque to Ban Ki-moon
ⓒ 2020. Sunhak Peace Prize
Video of the Awarding
Acceptance Speech
Ban Ki-moon giving his Acceptance Speech during the 2020 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony.ⓒ 2020. Sunhak Peace Prize
Video of Acceptance Speech
Honorable Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Universal Peace Federation Founder,
Chairman Dr. Hong Il-sik and His Excellency President Macky Sall, President of Senegal represented by His Excellency Amadou Ba Foreign Minister of Senegal,
And also Rev. Munib Younan,
Distinguished guests, former heads of state and government, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor for me to receive this Sunhak Peace Prize.
I’m incredibly grateful for this esteemed honor. It is quite meaningful to follow in the footsteps of the previous luminary awardees you have bestowed this honor upon.
I receive this with a humble mind. This is a very honorable, special peace award of Sunhak on behalf of so many people around the world who are still yearning, hoping that the United Nations will do much better, much more for all the people who really need our support at this time. I am deeply humbled that I only receive this honor.
Thank you, again, for your recognition.
My special recognition goes to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for her visionary patronage of this award, as well as for her longtime advocacy efforts in support of world peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development issues. I also take this opportunity to commend the impressive work and forward-thinking vision of the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation.
The critical efforts by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation are essential as we collectively strive to expand essential understanding, cooperation, and tolerance on the road to world peace and global sustainability.
In this connection, I simply couldn’t be more proud to receive this award intended to further the ideals of such a pioneering individual who so firmly believed in the importance of peace, human development, coexistence, and environmental protection.
My deepest gratitude goes to the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation members for this very special honor and recognition of my modest contribution for world peace and development. Thank you very much again.
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our world is changing and this is bringing many new challenges and uncertainties to the geopolitical and economic order.
Multilateral cooperation is viewed with increasing skepticism. Multilateralism represented and symbolized by the United Nations is under great threat. Multilateralism has been the basic guiding framework of this world, particularly, after the Second World War. Those countries who are leading this world have benefitted the most from multilateralism. They are now speaking about protectionism, unilateralism, individualism, isolationism. I am deeply concerned as a former Secretary-General of the United Nations who has to continue to uphold the guiding principle of the United Nations and multilateralism.
At the same time, our climate crisis is deepening as wildfires burn, sea levels rise higher, and temperatures continue to surge.
Under this backdrop of instability and waning internationalism, I firmly believe that we must work together. There is no country, no individual, however resourceful, however powerful one may be, who can do it alone. We have to put all our hands on the deck together. This has been my consistent, continuing message, even after my retirement from the United Nations. And I am deeply honored and deeply encouraged by so many people who are here, who are peace-lovers, who are loving, respecting human dignity.
Ladies and gentlemen,
During my ten-year tenure as United Nations Secretary-General, I strived to execute my global leadership by leveraging the power of partnerships and promoting the spirit of global citizenship.
I have met so many world leaders, so many business leaders, so many civil society leaders. I have seen very few leaders who are possessed with global citizenship with a global vision. We have to foster our youth, young generation, women and young so that they can become global leaders with a global vision. That is my earnest hope.
As you have seen in the video, I am proud that during my time as Secretary-General, I have prioritized the two most existential threats. One is climate crisis. Another one is the Sustainable Development Goals. Global partnerships, including the active participation of nonprofit organizations, civil society groups, religious organizations, philanthropists, and other key stakeholders like you, are necessary if we are to deliver what the United Nations has promised to the world.
The United Nations, by adopting Sustainable Development Goals on September 25, 2015, where all the leaders of the world were gathered in the General Assembly, promised that by the end of 2030, there will be nobody who should suffer from poverty, there should be nobody who should die needlessly from preventable diseases, there should be nobody whose human dignity should be not respected.
These are the promises of the world leaders. These are the promises of the United Nations.
Sustainable Development Goals also include young people as they are absolutely essential to solving so many of the world’s challenges such as achieving the SDGs, tackling climate change, building peace and resolving conflicts.
As such, I’ve been trying my best efforts, even after my retirement from the United Nations, for almost the same things that I used to do at the United Nations – promoting human rights, promoting civil society’s participation, climate change and Sustainable Development Goals.
In this regard, two years ago I launched the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens based in Vienna, Austria, and in Seoul, I established the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future. We must work together that all the people in this world should be able to enjoy a better future.
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The actions we take in the next ten years until 2030 will be critical to ensure the future viability of both humanity and our planet. So, we must work hard. We must work together to illuminate the true peace, harmony and reconciliation among people.
What type of peace? I am reminded of the words of President John F. Kennedy who said, “I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and hope and build a better life for their children …not merely peace in our time, but peace for all time.”
In 2020, the Year of the Rat, the white rat, and beyond, we all share a common destiny grounded in sustainability, peace, and prosperity. It is our moral duty and it is the political leaders’ political duty to realize this shared destiny for all global citizens in the years to come. With this, I am committed to work even harder to make this world better for all of you.
Lastly, this is quite coincidence I have found today sitting at this podium. Please look at that picture of me. I am wearing the same necktie. This is quite a coincidence. This is what my wife has chosen for me today, knowing that I am receiving a peace prize. This is the United Nations symbol. On every September 21, the United Nations International Day of Peace, I have been wearing this one. So, let us work together, ladies and gentlemen, to realize peace in this world.
Thank you very much.
Chairman Dr. Hong Il-sik and His Excellency President Macky Sall, President of Senegal represented by His Excellency Amadou Ba Foreign Minister of Senegal,
And also Rev. Munib Younan,
Distinguished guests, former heads of state and government, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honor for me to receive this Sunhak Peace Prize.
I’m incredibly grateful for this esteemed honor. It is quite meaningful to follow in the footsteps of the previous luminary awardees you have bestowed this honor upon.
I receive this with a humble mind. This is a very honorable, special peace award of Sunhak on behalf of so many people around the world who are still yearning, hoping that the United Nations will do much better, much more for all the people who really need our support at this time. I am deeply humbled that I only receive this honor.
Thank you, again, for your recognition.
My special recognition goes to Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for her visionary patronage of this award, as well as for her longtime advocacy efforts in support of world peace, global citizenship, and sustainable development issues. I also take this opportunity to commend the impressive work and forward-thinking vision of the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation.
The critical efforts by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation are essential as we collectively strive to expand essential understanding, cooperation, and tolerance on the road to world peace and global sustainability.
In this connection, I simply couldn’t be more proud to receive this award intended to further the ideals of such a pioneering individual who so firmly believed in the importance of peace, human development, coexistence, and environmental protection.
My deepest gratitude goes to the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation members for this very special honor and recognition of my modest contribution for world peace and development. Thank you very much again.
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our world is changing and this is bringing many new challenges and uncertainties to the geopolitical and economic order.
Multilateral cooperation is viewed with increasing skepticism. Multilateralism represented and symbolized by the United Nations is under great threat. Multilateralism has been the basic guiding framework of this world, particularly, after the Second World War. Those countries who are leading this world have benefitted the most from multilateralism. They are now speaking about protectionism, unilateralism, individualism, isolationism. I am deeply concerned as a former Secretary-General of the United Nations who has to continue to uphold the guiding principle of the United Nations and multilateralism.
At the same time, our climate crisis is deepening as wildfires burn, sea levels rise higher, and temperatures continue to surge.
Under this backdrop of instability and waning internationalism, I firmly believe that we must work together. There is no country, no individual, however resourceful, however powerful one may be, who can do it alone. We have to put all our hands on the deck together. This has been my consistent, continuing message, even after my retirement from the United Nations. And I am deeply honored and deeply encouraged by so many people who are here, who are peace-lovers, who are loving, respecting human dignity.
Ladies and gentlemen,
During my ten-year tenure as United Nations Secretary-General, I strived to execute my global leadership by leveraging the power of partnerships and promoting the spirit of global citizenship.
I have met so many world leaders, so many business leaders, so many civil society leaders. I have seen very few leaders who are possessed with global citizenship with a global vision. We have to foster our youth, young generation, women and young so that they can become global leaders with a global vision. That is my earnest hope.
As you have seen in the video, I am proud that during my time as Secretary-General, I have prioritized the two most existential threats. One is climate crisis. Another one is the Sustainable Development Goals. Global partnerships, including the active participation of nonprofit organizations, civil society groups, religious organizations, philanthropists, and other key stakeholders like you, are necessary if we are to deliver what the United Nations has promised to the world.
The United Nations, by adopting Sustainable Development Goals on September 25, 2015, where all the leaders of the world were gathered in the General Assembly, promised that by the end of 2030, there will be nobody who should suffer from poverty, there should be nobody who should die needlessly from preventable diseases, there should be nobody whose human dignity should be not respected.
These are the promises of the world leaders. These are the promises of the United Nations.
Sustainable Development Goals also include young people as they are absolutely essential to solving so many of the world’s challenges such as achieving the SDGs, tackling climate change, building peace and resolving conflicts.
As such, I’ve been trying my best efforts, even after my retirement from the United Nations, for almost the same things that I used to do at the United Nations – promoting human rights, promoting civil society’s participation, climate change and Sustainable Development Goals.
In this regard, two years ago I launched the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens based in Vienna, Austria, and in Seoul, I established the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future. We must work together that all the people in this world should be able to enjoy a better future.
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The actions we take in the next ten years until 2030 will be critical to ensure the future viability of both humanity and our planet. So, we must work hard. We must work together to illuminate the true peace, harmony and reconciliation among people.
What type of peace? I am reminded of the words of President John F. Kennedy who said, “I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and hope and build a better life for their children …not merely peace in our time, but peace for all time.”
In 2020, the Year of the Rat, the white rat, and beyond, we all share a common destiny grounded in sustainability, peace, and prosperity. It is our moral duty and it is the political leaders’ political duty to realize this shared destiny for all global citizens in the years to come. With this, I am committed to work even harder to make this world better for all of you.
Lastly, this is quite coincidence I have found today sitting at this podium. Please look at that picture of me. I am wearing the same necktie. This is quite a coincidence. This is what my wife has chosen for me today, knowing that I am receiving a peace prize. This is the United Nations symbol. On every September 21, the United Nations International Day of Peace, I have been wearing this one. So, let us work together, ladies and gentlemen, to realize peace in this world.
Thank you very much.