U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is set to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday amid wide speculation that he may join domestic politics to run in next year’s presidential election.

Ban has consistently avoided questions on the issue, but he has long been included in the list of potential presidential candidates in Korea’s leading public polls, in which he has often been a front-runner. Ban, who served as foreign minister in the Roh Moo-hyun administration, has especially been courted by the ruling Saenuri Party, which has yet to identify a clear standout presidential candidate.

Aside from a short trip to Japan, Ban is to stay here for six days, attending various forums and conferences and meeting with locals in the Gyeongsang provinces, a political stronghold for the Saenuri Party.

Ban’s first stop is the 11th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, for which he will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony Thursday. Upon his arrival on Wednesday, Ban will meet with members of an association of senior journalists, and is likely to field questions on his political ambitions after his U.N. tenure concludes by the end of this year.

Ban had told Korean correspondents in New York that he would appreciate if they “help him bring a successful conclusion to his service as U.N. secretary-general.” He did not directly comment on whether he is considering a presidential bid.

On Thursday afternoon, Ban will fly to Shima, Mie Prefecture in Japan, to participate in the G7 summit for two days.

After another two days in Seoul with no official schedule, Ban is to visit various regions including North Gyeongsang Province, a destination widely speculated by the local media and watchers as being politically driven. His schedule in Andong and Gyeongju include a visit to UNESCO world cultural asset Hahoe Village and a U.N. nongovernmental organizations conference.

A survey by pollster Realmeter earlier this month showed Ban leading ahead of opposition bigwigs Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo with 38.9 percent to 34.4 percent and 21.4 percent, respectively.

On Tuesday, People’s Party floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won fueled talks on Ban’s political motivation.

“As the secretary-general is someone with immense thirst for power, (I believe) he can run as a presidential candidate if the pro-Parks (ruling party members loyal to President Park Geun-hye) gather to enthrone him at the least,” he said, adding that one of Ban’s strengths is his political neutrality that led all rival parties would consider inviting him to join them.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)