United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Korea to play a key role in the global community in 2010, citing Seoul's elevated status as the host of the Group of 20 summit in November.

In his New Year's message to Koreans, Ban praised Korea for becoming one of the first nations to overcome the global economic crisis that erupted in 2008.

As U.N. chief, he also pledged his best to cope with climate change and poverty and resolve conflict in war-torn regions.