Ban Ki-moon
South Korean diplomat, UN Secretary-General (2007-2016), who backed the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Biography
Ban Ki-moon joined South Korea's foreign service in 1970 and served in Washington and at the United Nations. He became foreign minister in 2004.
He was elected the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations and served two terms, from 2007 to 2016. He made climate change a priority and helped bring about the Paris Agreement of 2015. His terms also saw the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals and crises in Syria, Libya and Sri Lanka.
After leaving the UN he briefly considered running for president of South Korea and later led several international foundations.
Offices held
Jan 1, 2007 – Dec 31, 2016
Preceded by
Kofi Annan Succeeded by
António Guterres
Kofi Annan Succeeded by
António Guterres
