Ban Ki-Moon may face criticism over his country's non-committal approach to North Korea's human rights record

South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ban Ki-moon has emerged as a front-runner in the race to succeed Kofi Annan.

In an informal straw poll held in July among the 15 members of the UN Security Council, he came out top.

A career diplomat, Mr Ban, 62, has previously served at South Korea's UN mission and its embassy in Washington. He has also been his country's ambassador to Austria.

As South Korean foreign minister since January 2004, he has played a leading role in six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

According to the ministerial website, his "guiding vision has been that of a peaceful Korean peninsula, playing an expanding role for peace and prosperity in the region and the world".

Having declared he would stand in February, Mr Ban has had seven months in which to garner support.

Announcing his candidacy, South Korea's vice-foreign minister Yu Myung-hwan talked of Mr Ban's "immaculate reputation" during nearly four decades as a diplomat and administrator.

"He has long been involved in issues of peace and security, development, democracy and human rights - the necessary qualifications to accomplish the UN's ideals and goals," Mr Yu said.

The government, while backing Mr Ban, has tried to keep its campaign low-key since early favourites have traditionally been overtaken in the later stages.

He may face criticism from some quarters over his country's non-committal approach to North Korea's human rights record, which has seen South Korea abstain in UN votes on the issue.

Mr Ban graduated from the Department of International Relations at Seoul University in 1970 and has a masters degree in public administration from Harvard University.