United Nations News Centre

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN/M. Garten

20 July 2011 – The Republic of Korea should draw from its own experience of poverty and suffering to help other countries achieve sustainable development, good government and prosperity, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says.

In remarks delivered to the Korea Society in New York last night, the Secretary-General, a native of ROK, said, “Often when I travel around the world, Korea is held up as a model – especially in Africa.

“We, too, we Koreans knew hunger and poverty. We, too, struggled for freedom and genuine freedom and participation in democracy. With help from good friends – the United States and the United Nations – we succeeded,” he said.

“Today, Korea has a special obligation – [a] moral and political obligation – to help poorer nations realize their own so-called ‘Korean dream’… a dream of development, good government, human rights, peace and prosperity.”

Noting the recent visit of the ROK President Lee Myung-bak to Africa and the country’s adoption of some development initiatives at the latest G20 summit, Mr. Ban said: “That is why I have welcomed Korean support for Africa. That is why I and many others look to Korea for leadership on sustainable development – the UN’s number one priority in the years ahead.”