As a high school student, the young Ban placed first in an English speaking contest and won a trip to meet President Kennedy. It was this meeting, he has said, that inspired him to become a diplomat. Needless to say, Ban achieved that goal and more. If Monday’s Security Council consensus holds, the South Korean Foreign Minister will become the word’s eighth Secretary General.
So who is Ban Ki-Moon? Below the fold is a list of useful resources that give you a sketch of the man and his work.
Biographical information:
Official biography (Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Unofficial biography (wikipedia)
Useful links:
“The Diplomat Who May Lead the UN” (Christian Science Monitor)
“Contender for top UN job says he can heal its rift with US” (The News)
Council on Foreign Relations transcript (May 31 2006)