Ban returns to South Korea after hinting at presidency run
 

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SEOUL: Retired UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon returned to South Korea on Thursday as momentum builds around his possible run in elections to succeed impeached President Park Geun-Hye.

"I have seriously considered and thought about how I can put my experience and k**wledge as a UN Secretary General to best use," Ban said in televised remarks after his arrival.

Speaking before a crowd of hundreds at Incheon International Airport, Ban said he was prepared to meet with the public this week before making a "selfless decision".

Ban´s return comes at a time of national uncertainty with tens of thousands of people marching in weekly protests demanding the permanent removal of scandal-hit Park, who was impeached by parliament last month over a corruption scandal.

If the Constitutional Court upholds the parliamentary vote, Park will be permanently ******* and elections held within 60 days.

"It breaks my heart," said Ban, referring to the ongoing political turmoil.

"We must never forget the people´s desire that was expressed on the streets."

A career diplomat, Ban never joined any South Korean political party, although he served as foreign minister under the late liberal president Roh Moo-Hyun from 2004 to 2006.

It remains unclear whether Ban will join Park´s ruling Saenuri Party or the emerging conservative party.

Saenuri Party floor leader Chung Woo-Taik "sincerely" welcomed Ban´s return through a Facebook post on Thursday, calling him "the pride and national asset of South Korea".

The former UN secretary general has a 20.3 percent approval rating according to a poll released Thursday.

Further troubling his political aspirations, Ban´s younger brother and nephew were indicted in a US court this week over an alleged attempt to bribe a Middle Eastern official regarding the sale of a building in Vietnam.

However Ban has denied any involvement, saying he was "perplexed and embarrassed" by the situation.

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