Ban awaits UN opinion over presidential bid

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by his wife Yoo Soon-taek, waves to supporters upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport, Thursday. Ban returned home after his 10-year service at the international organization amid widespread expectations that he will run for president. / Korea Times Photo by Choi Won-suk

Ban Ki-moon said upon his arrival here Thursday that he is awaiting the United Nations’ opinion about whether it is a violation of a U.N. rule if he runs for the Korean presidency.

However, Ban said he personally thinks it does not constitute a violation to seek an elected position after retirement, showing strong eagerness to join the presidential race.

This indicates that he has been discussing with the U.N. whether it is appropriate to launch a presidential bid after returning to Korea. Depending on the U.N.’s decision, he may have to drop running for the presidency.

“The U.N. will give an authoritative interpretation over the matter,” Ban told reporters after arriving at Incheon International Airport. “But I personally think that the U.N. rule does not prevent me from making political moves, especially concerning an elected position.”

He also said he has not officially declared his bid for the presidency, although many believe he will do so eventually.

Ban’s remarks came amid controversy over whether it will be a breach of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 11 for him to run for the presidency less than a year after his U.N. tenure ended, Dec. 31.

Adopted in 1946, the resolution states: “Because a Secretary-General is a confidant of many governments, it is desirable that no member should offer him, at any rate immediately on retirement, any governmental position in which his confidential information might be a source of embarrassment to other members.”

It also states that “a Secretary-General should refrain from accepting any such position.”

Ban said he was disappointed by the dispute over his eligibility to run for the presidency, claiming that the National Election Commission was in favor of his possible presidential bid.

“I have to question the intention behind those who stir up disputes. It is not fair or right,” Ban added.

Ban returned to Korea amid a series of allegations being raised against him and his family members.

They include a bribery scandal that implicates Ban, also a former foreign minister, of taking $230,000 from an entrepreneur, Park Yeon-cha, while serving as minister and U.N. chief between 2005 and 2007.

“I can’t understand why my name is being mentioned in the bribery scandal,” he said, adding that he “clearly explained” his views on the matter and all his statements were truthful.

He said there has been a misunderstanding about “congratulating” President Park Geun-hye in January 2016 after Korea and Japan reached an agreement in December 2015 over former Korean sex slaves during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule.

The criticism over his remarks grew again this year after Japan cited the controversial agreement in its retaliation against Korea for the installment of a new statute of a girl outside the Japanese consulate in Busan, Dec. 30. The statue symbolizes Tokyo’s wartime sex crimes and Japan has acted in a “paranoid fashion” about those erected in Korea and abroad.

“As a U.N. secretary-general, I always welcomed and encouraged bilateral agreements when the parties in conflict sought to resolve them peacefully through negotiations,” he said.

“My welcoming remarks should be understood in this context, although I believe a perfect agreement over the sex slavery issue should be one that can resolve the elderly victims’ deep sorrow.

“I’m aware of objections raised by Japan over the statute in Busan, but I think we should be future-oriented while correctly looking at the past to settle the issue.”

Ban said he will use his experience as U.N. chief to bring people together and unite the country, calling the current political situation a “crisis.”

“I have already vowed to devote myself to the country and this remains unchanged,” he said.

He held politicians and other leaders of society responsible for the political chaos and promised to make a fundamental change in politics.

On his way to home to Sadang-dong, Seoul, Ban rode on an airport express train and stopped by Seoul Station where he was greeted by supporters.

He is scheduled to go to North Chungcheong Province, the location of his home town, today. He is expected to meet his mother in Chungju and visit the sick and disabled at a rehabilitation center in Eumseong. (The Korea Times)