Go to contents

Ban Ki-moon to pay 6-day visit to Korea, Japan

Posted May. 14, 2016 07:24,   

Updated May. 14, 2016 07:26

한국어
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Korea and Japan for six days from May 25. Since Ban’s term will end at the end of this year, this might be his last visit to Korea as the head of the international body.

After attending the World Humanitarian Summit that will take place in Istanbul, Turkey on May 23 - 24, Ban will directly move to Korea on May 25 and give the keynote speech at the "Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity" in Jeju. He will stay in Japan for two days from May 26 and attend the G7 summit in Ise Shima, Mie Prefecture.

He will deliver the opening speech at the "U.N. NGO Conference," which kicks off in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province on May 30, before departing for New York. The NGO Conference is a venue where participants will discuss ways to achieve the U.N. 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since the adoption at the U.N. General Assembly Development Summit last year, the SDGs have been considered one of Ban’s most important achievements.

Of his six-day schedule, attention is focusing on the 24 hours between May 28 and 29. Since Ban is a potential presidential candidate, his every move is set to draw keen attention, while his schedule in-between the G7 summit and the NGO conference has yet to be finalized.

“I understand the duration of his visit to Korea has decreased from the original plan, and any schedules, which could be potentially interpreted as political moves, will be excluded," a diplomatic source said. Ban will not be visiting his hometown of Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province this time.

His schedule does not entail visit to the presidential office either, since he is arriving in Korea on May 25, when President Park Geun-hye will embark on her tour to Africa and France. Rumors over his candidacy as a relief pitcher remain in circulation, however, as other potential presidential candidates suffered setbacks while the ruling party had a crushing defeat in the April 13 general elections.

It is known that Ban will meet with his family and acquaintances in Seoul. “Since he is visiting Korea in a year after visiting the country to attend the 2015 World Economic Forum, he will spend personal time,” another diplomatic source said. “His schedule does not include meetings with other people.”

Ban is reportedly considering visiting Hahoi Village on the eve of his visit to Gyeongju. Hahoi Village is one if the UNESCO World Cultural Heritages, but he has never visited the site in person.



우경임기자 woohaha@donga.com