Published : Dec. 21, 2012 - 19:36
Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, stressed the importance of female education during the annual awards Gala of U.N. Correspondents Association.
But instead of his usual solemn speech, Ban made an amusing parody video to make his point.
In the video, a flustering advisor rushes into what appears to be a meeting of Ban’s advisers.
This scene in a parody video shows U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon training to get his body into shape.
“We’ve got a problem. Because of this man, Secretary-General is no longer the most famous Korean on the planet,” the adviser says, showing everyone a newspaper with Psy’s face.
The bad news elicits a heated discussion by Ban’s aides on how to boost the Secretary-General’s supposedly waning popularity. The advisers eventually decide that Ban should make a “viral video” to rival Psy’s smash hit “Gangnam Style” music video.
The video then shows the frail 68-year-old setting on his montage-style training, with the help of an unnamed “very handsome Austrian” and dubious looking milk-egg-kimchi shake.
When Ban posts his viral pro-education video however, he is bombarded by criticism from actors, singers and producers. Far from world-wide fame admiration, Ban is left with an aching heart and two YouTube “likes,” one from the U.N. deputy Jan Eliasson and the other from himself.
In the ending Ban redeems himself after his security staff posts a video of him singing to his granddaughter online, which becomes a massive hit.
After the presentation, Ban said he just wants to draw attention to important issues at hand, such as female education.
Ban expressed concern about the rampant abuse targeting women trying to receive education. He pointed out a recent murder attempt by the Taliban on teenage Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai.
“Malala Yousafzai suffered for her courage when she was attacked by the Taliban,” he said. “But they couldn’t kill her spirit.”
“She continues to spread her inspiring message about education for girls. The United Nation stands with her.”
By Yoon Min-sik (
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)