Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-moon officially declared his candidacy for the United Nations' top post on Tuesday (Feb. 14). It is the first time a South Korean has run in the election for secretary-general.

"I humbly accepted the government's decision to field me as the candidate for the secretary-general in order to make available South Korea's services to the development of the United Nations," Ban said at a news conference in Seoul.

Seoul plans to officially announce Ban's candidacy to the United Nations when its Security Council starts the election process. There is no set schedule, but it is expected to begin in September when the General Assembly convenes.

If elected, he will replace Kofi Annan, whose second five-year term expires on Dec. 31.

Ban's candidacy, which has been widely presumed for months, was unveiled at another news conference, hosted hours earlier by Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan.

"Ban has nearly four decades of experience as a diplomat and administrator with an immaculate reputation," Yu told reporters. "He has long been involved in issues of peace and security, development, democracy and human rights, the necessary qualifications to accomplish the U.N.'s ideals and goals."

Ban, 61, recently notified the foreign ministers of other countries, including North Korea, of his intention to run for the job, Yu said. "Most of them reacted positively."