South Korea ruling camp invites UN chief as presidential candidate

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 26, 2016, 11:26 Updated : May 26, 2016, 11:26

[Yonhap News Photo]


The conservative ruling party of President Park Geun-hye suggested Thursday that it would welcome UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a possible candidate to run for South Korea's presidential election next year.

Saenuri Pary secretary-general Hong Moon-pyo said that opposition parties appeared to be concerned about Ban running on a ruling party ticket, following his remarks Wednesday when the UN chief arrived to deliver a speech at a forum on the southern resort island of Jeju.

"I think that our party will be able to win if he joins our party," Hong told an SBS radio talk show, adding the UN chief has a conservative inclination and puts stress on conservative values.

Ban, whose second five-year term as UN chief ends late this year, has long been cited as a potential presidential candidate despite efforts to distance himself from being involved in political affairs in South Korea.

His possible candidacy has been at the center of political debate since Saenuri suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections in April. The election, seen as a test of gauging public sentiment ahead of the presidential race in December 2017, saw Saenuri falling to the second largest group in parliament.

Ban, 71, told South Korean journalists in Jeju on Wednesday that South Korea needs a leader who is ready to abandon "everything for national unity". "In fact, (South Korea) is too divided that political leaders should work harder for national unity."

About his possible presidential bid, the UN chief said vaguely that his family was split. "There are different views among my family members," he said, adding he would contemplate what he should do only after he returned home in January next year after completing his term as UN chief.

"I'll contemplate and decide then what I should do as a South Korean citizen and may ask for your advice if necessary."

His remarks were interpreted by South Korean political parties as a vague expression of his political ambitions, though Ban cautioned that he had never thought about joining a presidential race.

Well before Ban's trip to South Kore, a political debate has heated up over his candidacy. A recent political survey showed that 38 percent of 1,052 voters were in favor of Ban running for president, followed by opposition leader Moon Jae-in with 34.4 percent.

After a two-day visit to Japan to attend a G7 summit, he will visit his hometown to see his mother and deliver a speech at the Rotary International Convention on Sunday. For his final event, Ban will attend the UN Department of Public Information and Non-Governmental Organizations Conference in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.

Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
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