The newly elected chief of the United Nations maritime body will start his four-year term in the beginning of next year, the South Korean government said Thursday.

Lim Ki-tack, a former head of South Korea's local port operator, was elected in June to head the International Maritime Organization.

Lim will replace Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu to become the 9th IMO secretary-general starting Jan. 1.

His inauguration was approved unanimously by the IMO's general assembly last month, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

He has served in multiple positions in and outside the IMO, including as chairman of the subcommittee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (formerly the FSI) from 2002-2005.

"I will go through thorough organization analysis and assessment to make the IMO become a more transparent and efficient international agency," Lim was quoted as saying.

The IMO is the leading global authority on safety, security and environmental issues in the international shipping industry. South Korea joined the organization in 1962. (Yonhap)