Han Seung-soo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Han Seung-soo
한승수
Han in 2009
Prime Minister of South Korea
In office 29 February 2008 – 28 September 2009
President	Lee Myung-bak
Preceded by	Han Duck-soo
Succeeded by	Chung Un-chan
President of the United Nations General Assembly
In office 18 September 2001 – 17 September 2002
Preceded by	Harri Holkeri
Succeeded by	Jan Kavan
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
In office March 2001 – February 2002
President	Kim Dae-jung
Preceded by	Lee Joung-binn
Succeeded by	Choi Sung-hong
Chief Presidential Secretary
In office 23 December 1994 – 21 December 1995
President	Kim Young-sam
Preceded by	Park Kwan-yong
Succeeded by	Kim Kwang-il
South Korean Ambassador to the United States
In office 23 June 1993 – 23 December 1994
President	Kim Young-sam
Preceded by	Hyun Hong-choo
Succeeded by	Park Kun-woo
Personal details
Born	(1936-12-28) 28 December 1936 (age 88) Chuncheon, Korea, Empire of Japan
Political party	Grand National
Alma mater	Yonsei University (BA) Seoul National University (MPA) University of York (PhD)
Profession	Economist
Korean name
Hangul	한승수
Hanja	韓昇洙
RR	Han Seungsu
MR	Han Sŭngsu
Art name
Hangul	춘강
Hanja	春崗
RR	Chungang
MR	Ch'un'gang
Korean royal family (Cheongju Han clan)

Han Seung-soo (born December 28, 1936) is a well-known South Korean politician and diplomat. He served as the Prime Minister of South Korea from 2008 to 2009. During this time, Lee Myung-bak was the President.

Mr. Han has held many important roles around the world. He was a special helper to the United Nations Secretary-General for topics like climate change and disaster prevention. He also worked with the UN and World Bank on water issues. He was a founding leader of the Global Green Growth Institute.

He was the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations for its 56th meeting (2001–2002). He also served as South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance. Before that, he was the Chief of Staff for President Kim Young-sam. He was also South Korea's Ambassador to the United States. He was elected three times to the National Assembly, representing his hometown of Chuncheon.

Education and Early Career

Han Seung-soo studied at several famous universities. He earned his first degree from Yonsei University in 1960. He then got a master's degree from Seoul National University in 1963. Later, he earned his PhD in England from the University of York in 1968.

Before becoming a politician in 1988, Mr. Han was a respected professor. He taught economics at Seoul National University for many years. He also did research and taught at other universities. These included the Universities of York, Cambridge, Harvard, and Tokyo. He has received honorary degrees from several universities.

Important Roles and Achievements

Han Seung-soo has continued to work on important global issues. He is currently the Chair of the High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP). He also hosts special UN meetings about water and disasters. He helps lead the Water Advisory Group for the Asia Development Bank.

He is also involved with the Club de Madrid and the World Meteorological Organization. He was the Chairman for the committee that helped PyeongChang win the bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Mr. Han has helped South Korea achieve many things on the world stage.

• He was one of the people who started the APEC group in 1989. This happened when he was the Minister of Trade and Industry.
• He helped South Korea join the OECD in 1996. This was a big step for the country's economy.
• He led the United Nations General Assembly during the global crisis after the September 11, 2001, attacks. He was the Foreign Minister at the time.
• As Prime Minister, he helped pass an important resolution at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting.

See also

In Spanish: Han Seung Soo para niños

• Politics of South Korea