Ban Ki-moon

Politician

South Korean Haengchi Village, Wonnam Township, Insei, Chūseihoku-dō, Korea

Quick Info

ProfessionPolitician
NationalitySouth Korean
Date of Birth13/06/1944
Age81 years
BirthplaceHaengchi Village, Wonnam Township, Insei, Chūseihoku-dō, Korea

Latest News about Ban Ki-moon

18/02/2026

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been appointed honorary chairman and chair professor at Yonsei University's Africa Research Institute. The appointment was confirmed on December 19, 2025, and a welcoming event is planned for February or March 2026. He will support African research and international exchanges based on his experience and network.

15/12/2025

Ban Ki-moon warned the UN Security Council that it risks irrelevance without reform, citing the body's failures and the repeated use of veto by permanent members. Speaking at an open debate on 'Leadership for Peace,' he highlighted worsening global conditions since he left office in 2016, including conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. He also advocated for a single, non-renewable seven-year term for the Secretary-General to reduce political pressures.

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Bio/Wiki

Korean names
  • 반기문 (in Hangul)
  • 潘基文 (in Hanja)
  • Panɡimun (in IPA)
  • Pan Kimun (in McCune–Reischauer Romanization)
  • Ban Gimun (in Revised Romanization of Korean)
Nickname(s)
  • The Slippery Eel
  • Stand-up Guy
  • Invisible Man
  • Powerless Observer
  • Nowhere Man

Physical Stats & More

Height5' 10" (178 cm)
Eye ColorDark Brown
Hair ColorSalt and Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

Highest Education
  • Bachelor in International Relations at Seoul National University (1979)
  • Master of Public Administration at John F. Kennedy School of Government (1985)

Personal Life

Zodiac signGemini
SchoolChungju High School, South Korea
College/University
  • Seoul National University
  • John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
Food HabitNon-vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried
Marriage DateYear, 1970
Family
Wife/SpouseYoo Soon-taek (social activist)
Children
SonBan Woo-hyun (works in a New York-based finance company)
Daughter(s)
  • Hyun Hee Ban (Chief Social Policy maker in UNICEF India)
  • Ban Hyun-hee
Parents
FatherBan Myung-hwan (1922-1991) (businessman)
MotherShin Hyun-soon
Siblings
Brother(s)
  • Ban Ki-sang (businessman)
  • Ban Ki-hoon
Sister
  • Jong-ran
  • Ban Gyeong-hee
Other Relatives
Son-in-lawSiddharth Chatterjee (husband of Hyun Hee Ban; retired major of the Indian Special Forces, United Nations employee)

Career

ProfessionPolitician
Major Designations
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade (17 January 2004 - 1 December 2006)
  • 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007-2016)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Ban Ki-moon was born in Korea during the Japanese Rule.
2. He experienced extreme poverty in his youth due to his father's business setbacks.
3. Ban Ki-moon married Yoo Soon-taek in 1971, whom he met in high school.
4. In 1962, he won a Red Cross essay contest and traveled to the United States.
5. He became the UN Secretary-General without opposition in 2011.
6. Ban Ki-moon is a strong supporter of nuclear disarmament and climate conservation efforts.
7. He is an emeritus member of The Elders group.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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