The eighth Secretary-General of the UN: a top administrator and disarmament expert takes the helm.

The General Assembly, acting on the Security Council's recommendation, adopted on 13 October 2006 a resolution formally appointing Ban Ki-moon as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, giving him a transition period of two and a half months before taking over from Kofi Annan on 1 January 2007.

The Secretary-General designate brings a unique managerial experience to the United Nations. As Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea since January 2004, Mr. Ban has more than 35 years of distinguished service both in government and on the global stage. Rising through the ranks in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has represented a divided nation that has emerged from the total destruction of war to become a thriving democracy and market economy during the past three decades. His guiding vision has been that of a peaceful Korean Peninsula playing an expanding role for peace and prosperity in the region and the world.

Mr. Ban's first overseas posting was in New Delhi, India, where he was able to acquire first-hand experience on development issues. His bilateral assignments include two terms at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, DC, United States. From 1990 to 1992, he served as Director-General of American Affairs and in 1995 became Deputy Minister for Policy Planning. He was appointed National Security Advisor to the President in 1996 and became Vice Minister in 2000.

In 1996, as Deputy Minister of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Ban was one of the key players in the founding of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) for Asia-Europe Cooperation. In 2000, he oversaw the preparations for his country's hosting of the 3rd ASEM Summit in Seoul. His contributions to strengthening regional cooperation have also extended to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), representing his Government in the APEC senior official meetings in 1995. In 2005, with the Republic of Korea hosting APEC, he has chaired his Government's Preparation and Planning Committee for the APEC Summit in Busan, as well as the 17th APEC Ministerial Meeting.

Former Foreign Minister Ban has nurtured longstanding ties with the United Nations, dating back to 1975 during his days as a staff member in the UN Division at the Ministry's home office. The work expanded over the years with assignments as First Secretary at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations in New York, Director of the UN Division at...