Ban Ki-moon

1944 - Born on the 13th of June in Eumseong, Korea.

1970 - Received his bachelor's degree in International Relations from Seoul National University.

         - Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and worked his way up during the years of the Yusin Constitution.

1975 - Ban awarded the Order of Service Merit.

1985 - Earned a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He worked in the United Nations Division at the foreign ministry's headquarters.

1986 - Awarded by the Government of the Republic of Korea for his accomplishments as an envoy.

1990-1992 - Posted twice to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Embassy in Washington, D.C. as Director-General for American Affairs.

1991 - Became First Secretary at South Korea's Permanent Observer Mission to the UN in New York City.

1992 - Served as Vice Chairman of the South-North Joint Nuclear Control Commission.

1995 - Promoted to the position of Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations.

1996 - He was then appointed National Security Advisor to the President.

1999 - Elected as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

2000 - Ban assumed the office of Vice Minister.

2001-2006 - Served as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

         - Received the Grand Decoration of Honor from the Republic of Austria.

         - Worked as Foreign Policy Adviser to the President Noh Moo-hyun.

         - Ban worked as Chef de Cabinet of the President of the General Assembly.

2005 - Ban awarded as James A. Van Fleet Award for his contributions to US-ROK friendship.

2006 - Ban declared his candidacy to replace Kofi Annan as UN Secretary-General.

         - Ban Ki-Moon was elected next UN Secretary General in October

2007 - Became the 8th United Nations Secretary-General on 1st January.