“Our work for human dignity is often lonely, and almost always an uphill climb. At times, our efforts are misunderstood, and we are mistaken for the enemy. There has been a clear erosion of respect for U.N. blue and our impartiality.”

South Korean politician and diplomat

Ban Ki-moon is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2007 to 2016. He is also known for his time as South Korea’s minister of foreign affairs and trade from 2004 to 2006. Before reaching the top UN post, he was seen as an unlikely contender, but he began campaigning in February 2006 and steadily gained support. As foreign minister, he travelled to every country on the UN Security Council, a move that helped turn him into the frontrunner for the job.