Like the United Nations, South Korea was product of the second world war. Sixty years on, it has undergone a startling metamorphosis - from poor agrarian nation to one renowned for cutting- edge technology - and hopes to lead a transformation at the UN too.

Although South Korea has not yet named Ban Ki-moon as its candidate to succeed Kofi Annan as secretary-general, the country's highly regarded foreign minister is widely expected to throw his hat into the ring.