United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday left the possibility of his running for next Korean president open in words full of political ambiguity, saying that he will think about what he can do as a Korean citizen once his tenure ends while politely brushing off hyped attention towards him.

“I will return as a Korean citizen on Jan. 1 next year. I will think about what I can contribute as a Korean citizen then,” the 71-year-old UN chief said in a press conference arranged by the Kwanhun Club, an association of veteran journalists at Lotte Hotel, Jeju. Ban, who re-emerged as a potential presidential candidate for the ruling Saenuri Party as a favorite pitched by politicians loyal to President Park Geun-hye, arrived at Jeju on Wednesday for a forum on regional peace and prosperity. His UN schedule in Asia would end on Monday.

“I’ve never pictured myself as a president,” Ban said. “I am honored and grateful such talk has been raised,” he said, asking for public support and understanding so that he could finish his service with the UN well. Ban’s second term as UN chief ends in December.

He kept his eligibility for a potential presidential candidate open, shrugging off concerns of his being too aged to run for presidency. “U.S. presidential candidates are 70 and 76. That (age) is no longer a problem in advanced societies,” he said.

He said it was unfortunate that Korea is often reported in foreign media as divided in opinion amongst the people on top of being bisected with North Korea. He said someone capable of uniting the people should become the next president.

He pledged to do his utmost to keep inter-Korean dialogue channel alive during the remainder of his term.

Ban delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Jeju Forum that took place Thursday morning. He plans to head to Ise-Shima, Japan, to attend the G-7 Summit meeting on Friday. The Secretary-General is expected to return back to Korea to attend the Rotary International Convention and also visit the Andong Hahoe Folk Village. He will attend for the opening session of the UN DPI/NGO Conference in Gyeongju before wrapping up his trip on Monday.

By Shin Heon-cheol and Park Eui-myung

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