[Photo by Namgung Jin-woong= timeid@ajunews.com]
Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon announced his surprise decision Wednesday to give up his presidential bid, expressing frustration over what he called an "obsolete and selfish" mindset in South Korea's political circle.
Ban's decision shocked many supporters because he is one of the top presidential contenders in opinions polls along with Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic Party. With Ban out of the race, Moon is in the solid lead while the conservative group has no viable contender to recruit.
"I will give up my pure aspiration to spearhead the transfer of power and achieve national harmony," Ban said, adding he was "very frustrated" by parochial and selfish attitudes shown by politicians. "I've reached a conclusion that it is meaningless to go together with them."
President Park Geun-hye was impeached in parliament on December 9 for her role in a corruption scandal involving her jailed crony, Choi Soon-sil. If the constitutional court confirms Park's impeachment, an election should be held within two months.
Without declaring his candidacy, Ban, 72, had staged an active political campaign since he returned home triumphantly on January 12 after completing a 10-year tenure as UN secretary general.
However, he could not a flurry of media criticism and political attacks which he never tasted before as a diplomat, mainly due to corruption allegations involving himself and relatives.
On several occasions, he had apologized for a bribery case involving his younger brother, Ban Ki-sang, and his nephew, Dennis Bahn. US authorities have asked South Korea to arrest his brother on charges of bribery.
They were charged with conspiracy in New Yok for trying to bribe a Middle East government official in the course of trying to sell a building owned by a South Korean construction firm, Keangnam Enterprises, in Vietnam.
The case has dealt a blow to Ban who has maintained a relatively clean image at home. He also has been dogged by allegations that he took bribes from a businessman while serving as foreign minister.
"The cause that led me to spearhead the transfer of power was lost among malicious political defamation and fake news which I think are tantamount to a social murder," Ban said.
His sudden withdrawal followed talks with leaders of the ruling and opposition political parties. This week, Ban proposed a consultative body to pursue a constitutional revision, but his appeal failed to find an echo in the heart of many voters.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
