By Alex Jensen
SEOUL (AA) – Ban Ki-moon exchanged New York for Seoul Thursday and was immediately met with a barrage of enquiries over his political ambitions.
The man who has served as United Nations chief for the last decade is tipped to run for South Korean president in an election scheduled to take place at the end of this year — but it could come earlier given last month’s impeachment of now suspended leader Park Geun-hye.
Accompanied by his wife, who was previously said to be in favor of Ban retiring upon his return to the South, the 72-year-old explained it would “not take a long time” for him to reach a decision on his future after gathering opinions.
“I have already said that I am ready to give my all,” he reminded the crowd of reporters and members of the public who greeted him at Incheon International Airport according to Yonhap News Agency.
While Ban has never explicitly stated his interest in becoming South Korean president, political opponents have prepared reasons why he should refrain from doing so.
His representatives recently threatened legal action against a local magazine that raised a bribery allegation related to his time as the South’s foreign minister more than a decade ago.
“I make it clear once and for all that I have nothing to be ashamed of,” Ban insisted at the airport.
He also said he was “flabbergasted” by a corruption case surrounding his brother and nephew, and apologized for causing concerns.
South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party demanded via a spokesperson that Ban “clarify whether he is qualified to discuss the future of the country”.
In an apparent move to connect with the people, Ban took a train into Seoul from Incheon — he is set to visit the graves of former presidents this Friday.
