Ban Ki-moon as Plenary Speaker at the 2025 IPSA World Congress

IPSA is honored to announce that His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, will be a plenary speaker at the 2025 IPSA World Congress of Political Science in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday, 13 July 2025, from 13:45-15:15 KST.

Ban Ki-moon, an advocate for peace, climate change, and sustainable development, served as UN Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016. His extensive experience in international diplomacy and commitment to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges will provide valuable insights and inspiration to 2025 IPSA World Congress participants. Stay tuned to the Congress website for details regarding his plenary address.

Biography

Ban Ki-moon is a South Korean diplomat who served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) from January 2007 to December 2016. Before becoming UNSG, Mr. Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. As the eighth UNSG, Ban Ki-moon’s priorities were 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 led the efforts for the landmark Paris Climate Agreement and, under his leadership, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda were created.

Ban Ki-moon currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens which seeks to empower youth and women to become active global citizens in creating a sustainable future for all. In addition, he currently holds over 20 positions, including the Presidency and the Chairmanship of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and Chairmanships of the Global Commission on Adaptation, the Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee, and the BOAO Forum in Asia.