Ex-UN chief Ban Ki-moon is in a New York airport to board a flight home.[Yonhap News Photo]
Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed regret at a bribery case involving his relatives but dismissed any connection with them as he took a step towards an uncertain political life at his homeland.
"I was surprised. I'm embarrassed and ashamed at the involvement of a close family member, and I feel really sorry for causing public anxiety," Ban, 72, told South Korean journalists before boarding a flight home.
He said he did not know about the case involving his younger brother, Ban Ki-sang, and his nephew, Dennis Bahn, who were charged with conspiracy in New Yok to bribe a government official. "As the judicial process is in progress, I will wait for the result. As I said earlier, I did not know anything about it. I had no knowledge about his business because he was a long niece all grown up."
The bribery case dealt a blow to Ban, a former foreign minister who has maintained a relatively clean image at home, but that's not seen as a game changer as supporters and political parties seek to uphold or recruit him as a presidential candidate.
There will be no red carpet ceremony at his own wish when he arrives late Thursday in an airport west of Seoul, though supporters vowed to greet Ban, a top contender in South Korea's presidential election that may come this spring at the earliest.
President Park Geun-hye was impeached in parliament on December 9 for her role in a corruption scandal involving her arrested crony, Choi Soon-sil. If the constitutional court confirms Park's impeachment, an election should be held within two months.
Ban has yet to declare his candidacy, but South Korea's political circle regards his homecoming as the start of a presidential race. Supporters have already formed a campaign team which arranged a variety of events including trips to a national cemetery and his hometown in Eumseong where his 92-year-old mother lives.
In opinions polls, Ban has been back and force battling with Moon Jae-in, a strong opposition candidate.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
