The Global Green Growth Institute announced Tuesday the appointment of former Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen as its chairman.

He will replace Han Seung-soo, a former Korean premier who has been running the Seoul-based institute as the inaugural chief.

Established in June 2010 by the Korean government, the GGGI is Seoul’s think tank and platform to spread its green growth initiative overseas. It opened its first overseas office in Copenhagen last year.

The institute is to be converted into an international organization in October, with the endorsement of the head of states participating in the Rio+20 summit to be held in Brazil next month. 

“It was a great pleasure to serve as founding chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute for the last two years. Now that GGGI is firmly established, it is in the process of being converted into an international organization and entering the second phase of its development, I thought it was about time to resign,” Han was quoted as saying in a press release.

He said the Danish politician, with his vision for green growth and leadership in global climate action, is the right person to lead the GGGI.

Rasmussen is currently the leader of Denmark’s center-right party, Venstre. He served as the country’s prime minister from April 2009 to October 2011, after stints as the Interior and Health Minister from 2001 to 2007 and as the Minister of Finance from 2007-09.

“It is an honor to serve as the chairman of the GGGI. Denmark was the first state contributor to the GGGI, outside Korea, I will do my best to help the GGGI meet expectations of the international community,” he was quoted as saying.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)