South Korean government announced Tuesday its top diplomat Ban Ki-moon will participate the race for the post of the secretary general of the United Nations.

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban, a veteran diplomat with 36 years of service, is a very hopeful candidate in the competition.

Ban has served as South Korea's minister of foreign affairs and trade since Jan. 2004, making him one of the longest-serving foreign ministers in South Korean history.

He was senior advisor to President Roh Moo-hyun over foreign affairs and national security issue before taking office as the foreign minister.

The 61-year-old official has extensive experience in the United Nations. Between May of 2001 and September of 2002, he served as chief of the Cabinet of the President of the 56th General Assembly of the U.N. and South Korea's ambassador to the multinational organization.

He served as First Secretary on South Korea's permanent observer mission to the U.N. in New York from 1978 to 1980, and was director of the U.N. division at South Korea's foreign ministry from 1980 to 1983.

Ban, who majored in international relations at Seoul National University, also studied public administration at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

He was born in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, on Jun. 13, 1944. Ban is fluent in both English and French.

It seemed, the South Korean foreign minister has confident to win the race.

"The South Korean government has the intention of taking a more active role, starting with the presentation of its candidate in the next election for the new United Nations chief, to work with other member countries in view of its new phase in the 21st century," Ban said in a speech when he was in Paris earlier this month.

Source: Xinhua