The opposition chief said Tuesday that he thinks that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should join his party if he decides to join politics after finishing his term as the U.N. chief.
Moon Jae-in, leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, made the comment in a meeting with senior journalists, noting that Ban became the U.N. chief in 2006 as South Korea, under the leadership of then-President Roh Moo-hyun, made diplomatic efforts for his campaign. Moon served as Roh's chief of staff.
"I will make efforts to ensure" Ban will join the opposition party, Moon said, adding that he is interested in asking Ban to become an opposition presidential candidate.
Ban's term is set to end Dec. 31 next year, about one year before South Koreans go to the polls to elect a new president. The 71-year-old was voted the most favored among potential presidential candidates in recent months.
He has also recently made headlines with his plans to visit North Korea. Last month, Ban confirmed a Yonhap report that he is planning a trip to the North. The plan has drawn keen attention, as he's expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The secretary-general, if his trip is realized, will be the third U.N. chief to visit North Korea after Kurt Waldheim in 1979 and Boutros Boutros-Ghali in 1993.
Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, has repeatedly said that he will do everything possible to promote inter-Korean reconciliation and a resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.
Touching on his party's infighting, Moon said he does not think Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a former co-chairman of the opposition party, will leave the party.
Ahn, who led the opposition party with Moon last year, did not show up at the party headquarters for the second straight day after his request was rejected.
The businessman has repeatedly called for a complete leadership change after the party's crushing defeat in April's parliamentary by-elections. (Yonhap)