Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon writes in a guestbook during his visit to the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, Wednesday, to honor those who were killed during a democratic uprising against military dictator Chun Doo-hwan, May 18, 1980. / Yonhap



By Kim Hyo-jin

Speculation is growing that former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon may join the Bareun Party, a breakaway group from the ruling Saenuri Party, for a presidential bid.

Last week, Ban ruled out creating a new party, saying he will join an existing party if he opts to run for the presidency.

Ban has been courted by the Saenuri, Bareun and People's parties. However, he has tried to distance himself from the ruling party and the scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye. The People's Party has also turned its back on Ban, citing his alleged ties to former President Lee Myung-bak, whom the party calls an "old evil."

For now, the Bareun Party appears to be the remaining option for Ban.

People's Party Chairman Rep. Park Jie-won said Wednesday Ban has been "estranged from the party," while lacking a clear view on state management, and siding with conservative figures.

"It is not too much to say that we have nearly closed the door on him," he said during a radio interview.

"He has yet to present any plan on how to run the administration when he is supposed to do so if he hopes to take power. It is also bothering that he is cozying up to figures from the failed administration."

Disgruntled with Ban's buzzwords "political reform" and his ambiguity with regards to the Park Geun-hye administration, Park said, "His stance makes us wonder if he is willing to take over the current government."

Taking issue with Ban's recent phone call to Park where he told her "be well-prepared," the minor opposition leader claimed he appears to want her impeachment to be overruled by the Constitutional Court.

"He's gone too far away from our policies and ideological trend," he said.

With this strong signal that the People's Party will stop seeking to recruit Ban, the possibility of him joining the Bareun Party is increasing.

Ban earlier clearly rejected aligning with the Saenuri Party, saying, "I would have joined and competed in its primary if it had remained as a decent party without a split."

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is the least possible party to join as there are multiple presidential hopefuls including former party leader Moon Jae-in, who is leading in opinion polls.

Meanwhile, the Bareun Party has stepped up its attempts to attract Ban following his virtual rejection by the People's Party.

"We are sure he will join us," Rep. Hwang Young-cheul, a Bareun Party lawmaker, said in a radio interview.

"What he pursues and how he views things are mostly in parallel with ours. Both are seeking to embrace reformist centrists, and we are open to the idea of expanding our influence by forging alliances with other political forces during the presidential campaign."

If Ban joins the Bareun Party, he is expected to compete with Rep. Yoo Seong-min, a former Saenuri Party floor leader well known for having been at odds with the President over her policies.

Ban's possible alliance with the new conservative party could lead to more lawmakers leaving the Saenuri Party. Ruling party lawmakers whose constituencies are in the Chungcheong provinces have expressed open support for Ban. The 30-member Bareun Party is scheduled to officially launch itself, Jan. 24.

Ban said Monday he will decide which party he will be aligned with after the Lunar New Year holiday, from Jan. 27 to Jan. 30.

"It's troublesome financially to manage things all alone. I'm using my private money as there's no party to ask for support from. I think eventually I will have to join hands with a political party," he told reporters.