UN chief distancing himself from Park

By Kang Seung-woo

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticized President Park Geun-hye for betraying the public trust, describing the corruption scandal involving her and her friend Choi Soon-sil as the country’s “biggest political turmoil since the Korean War.”

This is in stark contrast to the long-circulating rumors that he is backed by Park and her loyalists as the ruling party’s candidate for the next presidency.

“I believe that during my seven-decades-long life as a South Korean citizen, we have not been experiencing this kind of political turmoil except when the... Korean War broke out,” the outgoing U.N. chief said. The comment was made at a discussion organized by the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Saturday.

“The people were very much frustrated and angry about the complete lack of good governance. And they believed that the trust on and for the leadership of the country was betrayed.”

He added: “That’s why people became much more frustrated and angry. And I fully understand this situation.”

This was his latest comment on the current political turbulence in Korea — an apparent move to distance himself from the impeached President before possibly declaring his own candidacy for the presidency.

Ban, whose U.N. term ends at the end of the year, is highly anticipated to run in next year’s presidential election.

“I hope that this will give up good lessons — good lessons to the leadership people of Korean society, whether political, economic or social. One must show the public common good ahead of their personal or organizational interest. That’s what we have to learn,” Ban said.

In his final U.N. press conference, last week, Ban also said he understood “the aspiration of people for a new type of inclusive leadership that can help them overcome the challenges ahead” — an indication he thinks he is the right person to provide it.

Political analysts believe his recent strong comments indicate that Ban is cranking up his presidential ambitions.

“Distancing himself from President Park, Ban seems to be taking the next step toward the presidency,” said Yoon Tae-gon, a senior political analyst at Moa Agenda Strategy.

“Until he returns home, Ban is expected to take a similar stance in the United States.”

President Park’s stunning fall has adversely affected Ban’s presidential ambitions as he was highly expected to join her Saenuri Party to run in the election, scheduled for December 2017.

However, since the corruption scandal broke in late October, Ban’s once untouchable lead has been eroding in polls on potential presidential candidates, falling behind Moon Jae-in, a former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

A new Realmeter survey found, Monday, that Moon ranked first with 23.7 percent, up 0.6 percentage points from a week earlier, while Ban was second with 20.5 percent, up 1.7 percentage points over the cited period.

Despite the differentiation strategy, he once again failed to publicly declare his candidacy.

“I am extremely busy... so I don’t have time to think about that,” he said.

“When Jan. 1st comes, when I become a private citizen of the Republic of Korea, then I have to think seriously how best and what I can contribute to this situation. That’s what I can tell you at this time... But for more than that, maybe you may have to wait until Jan. 1.”

The DPK has begun to try and keep Ban, Moon’s potential biggest challenge, in check.

“Ban is devising a scenario that will label him a savior to resolve the current political turmoil,” said Rep. Park Kyung-mee, a DPK spokeswoman. “It just looks ridiculous.”