British King Charles III (left) on June 11 talks with former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the ceremony for the inaugural King Charles III Harmony Award at St James's Palace in London. (Yonhap News)

By Wu Jinhua

Former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has received the inaugural King Charles III Harmony Award from the King's Foundation, the charity organization of British King Charles III.

Global media such as The BBC and the daily Independent of the U.K. said the king on June 11 presented the honor to Ban at a ceremony hosted at St James's Palace in London. 

The award goes to an individual or group to recognize outstanding devotion to and support over a long time for the foundation or its philosophy.

On why Ban was chosen, the foundation said, "Throughout his career, he has worked to mobilise international efforts towards addressing issues such as climate change, sustainable development, poverty and inequality, seeking to make the world safer and more equitable."

The foundation runs scholarships and educational programs for the goal of a harmonious world including response to climate change and sustainable development.

While serving as the world body's eighth chief from 2007-16, Ban was seen as greatly contributing to the adoption of the Paris Agreement on alleviating climate change and the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals.

jane0614@korea.kr