Ban looms large in S. Korea's opinion polls
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly said he is not interested in South Korean politics, but he is still the most favored among potential candidates for the 2017 presidential election.
In April, Ban said he wants to spend time taking care of his grandchildren after his retirement.
It remains unclear whether the U.N. chief can realize his simple dream as he could be at the center of South Korean politics in the coming years.
A latest poll showed that the former South Korean foreign minister received 21.1 percent of public support as a possible candidate for the presidential election.
The leaders of South Korea's ruling and opposition parties trailed far behind Ban, with 14.1 and 11.2 percent, respectively, according to the survey conducted by polling agency TNS Korea. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
The survey result came as Ban and South Korean President Park Geun-hye exchanged public messages in support of each other at the U.N.
Park has unveiled her commitment to making contributions to the sustainable development agenda and the U.N. climate change conference, the two major issues pushed by Ban.
Park also attended an informal working lunch Ban hosted to build momentum in leading up to the climate conference meant to produce a new legally binding deal cut the heat-trapping gases.
Meanwhile, Ban hosted a closed-door banquet in Park's honor at his official residence soon after Park arrived in New York for the U.N. General Assembly on Friday.
The two met each other on several occasions during the U.N.
sessions. In the session on South Korea's "Saemaeul Movement," or new community movement, Ban said he was moved as U.N. member states adopted and carried out the movement for the first time in the history of the U.N.
The initiative -- launched by Park's father, then-President Park Chung-hee, in the 1970s -- is credited with helping modernize the then-rural South Korean economy.
Ban also said the Saemaeul Movement spread in countries ranging from Asia to Africa "like a forest fire."
He also expressed gratitude to Park for sharing South Korea's development know-how with developing countries.
Park smiled and clapped her hands after Ban's speech and told him "thanks" in Korean.
Ban also vowed to assist in efforts to promote peace and the development of inter-Korean relations, a key agenda of Park.
The apparent rapport between the two leaders and Ban's active support of Park in the U.N. may rekindle the rumor of Ban's possible candidacy, despite his objection to getting involved in South Korea's domestic politics.
Ban's second five-year term at the U.N. is set to end at the end of 2016, a year before South Koreans go to the polls to elect a new president who will replace Park.
Park's single five-year term ends in early 2018, and by law, she cannot seek re-election. (Yonhap)
-
Cyrix: Gone But Not Forgotten汉源联社勇挑服务“三农”重担 助推中小微企业发展壮大车友自驾游 看上去很美开班了!生猪疫病净化与非主粮饲料专业技术培训班顺利举办Naver, Kakao strive to combat deepfake porn spreading online行走人间 仰望云天走进苗场,解锁蔬菜设施育苗高效益密码!“三朵金花”健康成绩优良South Korean lawmakers brace for US election as Harris, Trump diverge on North KoreaNBL第13轮再输一场 四川金强季后赛之路堪忧
- ·Norris stuns Verstappen at Dutch GP
- ·天热了 请别忽视爱车的“心脏”
- ·1分之差逆转 四川金强负于卫冕冠军江苏同曦
- ·我用镜头寻找 花海果香中的雅西
- ·Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: The Fenix wins big on battery life
- ·合作签约添动力,揭西十大名优产品北京“出街”
- ·雨城地税送税法到园区企业
- ·调研中小微企业助力实体经济发展
- ·Venture Missionaries
- ·开展打击 非法集资宣传活动
- ·雨城地税送税法到园区企业
- ·隧道最高限速有望70公里每小时
- ·[From the Scene] How ‘world’s first oil town’ is wrestling to become ‘green'
- ·拦网!扣杀!台山“侨VA”引爆排球热
- ·温馨五月花 感恩母亲节
- ·4月份PPI同比下跌2.03%
- ·13 Places to Find Little Legends and Compact Cryptids
- ·与城区擦肩 5分钟内可绕过芦山城
- ·拦网!扣杀!台山“侨VA”引爆排球热
- ·两车擦挂 肇事司机哭求私了 挡车被撞 无辜车主不幸截肢
- ·Microwave technique recovers 87% of batteries' lithium in 15 minutes
- ·雨城联社继续做好收费项目和价格标准公示工作
- ·喜报连连!广东水产在四川农业博览会赢得世界500强亿元合作意向
- ·合作签约添动力,揭西十大名优产品北京“出街”
- ·Our galaxy might crash into Andromeda. What would happen to Earth?
- ·自换床位掉下摔伤 谁之过 法院判双方都有过 化纠纷