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SEOUL: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged his fellow South Koreans on Friday to do more for the world, saying they have a responsibility to help others.
Calling his appeal "a sobering message" for Koreans, Ban said in a speech to parliament that the international community wants his homeland to be more active in solving the world's problems.
South Korea's former foreign minister called for more international efforts to fight climate change and poverty, meet development goals and keep peace in the world.
"While we Koreans take pride in many achievements, economic and political maturity and democracy, the message...is that we should do more -- much, much more -- for the peace and stability and common prosperity of the international community," he said.
He lamented the fact that South Korea ranks low among the members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a donor nation.
"Personally, I was ashamed as the secretary general (at South Korea's record)," he said, adding that it is time for his country to give back to the world the help it received after the Korean War.
"Korea may not be a great power but certainly we can be a great nation," he said, adding that its people tend to focus on domestic issues and pay less attention to global concerns.
"If Korea is to be a great nation, we must show greatness of our heart and generosity," he said.
Ban emphasised the urgency of addressing climate change, one of his top agenda items at the helm of the United Nations.
"We have resources, we have technologies. (What is) lacking is the political will," he said.
"I think industrialised countries, developed countries like Korea, they should lead this campaign," he said. "They have the historical responsibility.
"Seeing my country take the lead in this effort is my burning personal desire," he added.
The UN chief also urged Seoul to expand its UN peacekeeping efforts.
"Gone are the days when we could afford to focus solely on our security on the Korean peninsula," he said. "There are many, many more serious, complicated regional conflicts in the world."
"The Republic of Korea can and should play a dramatically enhanced role in the months and years to come in the international community," he said.
Ban, whose appointment was a source of great pride for Koreans, said the message was not coming from himself as an individual but from the international community and the UN.
"As the secretary general standing here, I also feel very sorry, passing this responsibility to all Koreans," he said.
"This is my urgent and sincere appeal as the secretary general," he said.
- AFP/jk
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