A Korean has been elected to head the International Maritime Organization, the first time since Korea joined the U.N. organization in 1962.

Lim Ki-tack, president of the Busan Port Authority, will lead the IMO starting January 2016. Lim’s election is a coup for Korea ― it was only last year that the Sewol ferry sinking claimed more than 300 lives, exposing to the world the country’s feeble maritime safety enforcement. At the same time, Lim’s election is a recognition of Korea as a shipbuilding powerhouse and a leading figure in the international maritime industry.

The International Maritime Organization is the foremost authority on international shipping. It is responsible for some 60 international agreements and approximately 1,800 resolutions concerning international shipping, exerting powerful influence in the international shipbuilding and maritime industries.

It goes without saying that Lim’s election as the IMO secretary-general is a great honor for Korea as well as a personal honor for the maritime expert with nearly 30 years of experience working in the maritime industry and related organizations. Lim also served as the chairman of the IMO’s Flag Ship Implementation Sub-committee from 2002-2005.

Lim follows in the footsteps of fellow countrymen U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the late Lee Jong-wook, the World Health Organization’s director general from 2003-2006 until he passed away unexpectedly at age 61, in serving the global community. The weight of such offices are very heavy and Koreans should support Lim as he leads the world in maritime affairs. While Lim, as did Ban and Lee, brings much honor to Korea with his election to the top post at a very important international organization, we should remember that he will now serve the global community and that will be his priority.

The six-way race saw Lim beat candidates from five other countries in five rounds of voting by 40 council members. In fact, Lim, who declared his candidacy rather late, was an unlikely winner, with a Danish candidate the favorite to win. However, Lim’s perseverance and winning personality appear to have given him the victory.

While the government’s support for Lim’s bid surely played a role in his election ― it is reported that even President Park Geun-hye advocated on his behalf as did the relevant ministries ― it should not blow its own trumpet too much. It is poor form, and probably does disservice to Lim, who should not be distracted from his work as the leader of a powerful global organization.