潘基文现为联合国第八任秘书长。他的优先事项是动员世界各国领导人应对众多新的全球挑战，有气候变化及经济动荡，有流行病及不断增大的与粮食、能源和水有关的压力。他致力于成为铺路搭桥者，让世界上最贫穷和最脆弱的民众发出声音，同时也努力加强联合国本身。
“我在战争中长大”，秘书长说：“目睹了联合国帮助我的国家恢复和重建。这一经历是促使我投身于公共服务的一个重要原因。作为秘书长，我决心使联合国能够提供具体和有意义的成果，促进和平、发展和人权。”
秘书长1944年6月13日生于大韩民国。1970年获国立首尔大学国际关系学士学位。1985年，获哈佛大学肯尼迪政府学院公共行政硕士学位。
当选秘书长时，潘先生是韩国外交通商部长官。在该部任职的37年中，他曾被派驻新德里、哥伦比亚特区华盛顿和维也纳等地，并担任过各种职务，包括总统外交政策顾问、总统国家安全顾问、外交通商部政策企划次官以及美洲局局长。
潘先生同联合国的关系可追溯到1975年任职于外交部联合国处之时。此后，他的有关工作经验逐年扩展，包括全面禁止核试验条约组织筹委会主席以及大韩民国在2001至2002年期间担任的联合国大会主席办公室主任等职。潘先生还积极参与解决有关朝韩关系的问题。
秘书长说英文、法文和韩文。他与夫人柳(潘)淳泽女士在1962年读高中时相识，现有一子两女，孙辈有三人。自2007年以来，潘夫人一直致力于解决妇女和儿童健康问题，包括自闭症问题、消除对妇女的暴力、以及推动防止母婴艾滋病毒/艾滋病传播的运动。
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations. His priorities have been to mobilize world leaders around a set of new global challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and increasing pressures involving food, energy and water. He has sought to be a bridge-builder, to give voice to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, and to strengthen the Organization itself.
"I grew up in war", the Secretary-General has said, "and saw the United Nations help my country to recover and rebuild. That experience was a big part of what led me to pursue a career in public service. As Secretary-General, I am determined to see this Organization deliver tangible, meaningful results that advance peace, development and human rights."
The Secretary-General was born in theRepublicofKoreaon 13 June 1944. He received a bachelor's degree in international relations fromSeoulNationalUniversityin 1970. In 1985, he earned a master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government atHarvardUniversity.
At the time of his election as Secretary-General, Mr. Ban was his country's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His 37 years of service with the Ministry included postings in New Delhi, Washington D.C. and Vienna, and responsibility for a variety of portfolios, including Foreign Policy Adviser to the President, Chief National Security Adviser to the President, Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and Director-General of American Affairs.
Mr. Ban’s ties to the United Nations date back to 1975, when he worked for the Foreign Ministry's United Nations Division. That work expanded over the years, with assignments that included service as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization and Chef de Cabinet during theRepublicofKorea's 2001-2002 presidency of the UN General Assembly. Mr. Ban has also been actively involved in issues relating to inter-Korean relations.
The Secretary-General speaks English, French and Korean. He and his wife, Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek, whom he met in high school in 1962, have one son, two daughters and three grandchildren. Since 2007, Mrs. Ban has devoted her attention to women’s and children’s health, including autism, the elimination of violence against women, and the campaign to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
