UN and Secretary-General Kofi Annan Won the Nobel Peace Prize

The United Nations (UN) and Secretary-General Kofi Annan (63) won the Nobel Peace Prize, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

The Nobel committee in Norway announced yesterday that Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the UN were selected as the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize this year for their efforts to achieve the unity and peace of the international society. Last year, President Kim Dae-jung won the peace prize.

Founded on October 24th, 1945, the United Nations has contributed to improve cooperation among nations in every field such as politics, economy, and society, preventing wars and keeping peace.

Annan, born in Ghana, became U.N. Secretary-General in 1996, and was unanimously reappointed to a second five-year term in June. He has been praised for his leadership and his efforts to mediate the conflicts.

This is the second time the UN Secretary-General won the Nobel Peace Prize since Dag Hamarsheld won the prize posthumously in 1961. Although there was a precedent case that the organization under the UN won the peace prize, it is the first time that the UN won the prize. Thirty-four past laureates were expected in Oslo for centennial celebrations leading up to the December 10 awards ceremony. The award is 943,000 dollar (1.35 billion won).

Lee Jong-Hoon taylor55@donga.com