Roundup: Ex-UN chief drops presidential bid in S.Korea as support falls

Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who returned to his home country three weeks ago, on Wednesday dropped his presidential bid in South Korea as support scores for him sharply fell following the lunar New Year's holiday.

Ban held an unscheduled press conference in the National Assembly, saying he will give up his "pure will" to lead South Korea's political change and the national unity as his intention was distorted by media reports and slanders.

During the press conference, which was held without any prior notice, Ban said his pure patriotism and ambition were damaged by slanders and fake news reports that were almost equivalent to "killing" his personality.

The career diplomat said he was extremely disappointed at the narrow-minded, egoistic behaviors shown in the political arena, noting that it would be meaningless for him to go together with them.

He expressed his deep apology to supporters, advisors and those working with him.

Ban, however, said he will devote himself to resolving his country's crisis and bringing a bright future based on his experience as former UN secretary general.

Since he came back to his homeland on Jan. 12, Ban has been put in the local media spotlight. The former South Korean foreign minister finished his second, five-year term in the top UN post at the end of last year.

Ban has long been viewed as the most powerful presidential contender in the conservative bloc in the absence of any proper candidate from the ruling Saenuri Party following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

Supports for Park and her party sank in tandem after the influence-peddling scandal emerged in October. The bill to impeach the president was passed on Dec. 9 in the parliament with an overwhelming majority.

Since his comeback, Ban had made the so-called "people-friendly" trip across the country to directly meet people in regions. He also proposed to amend the country's constitution for decentralized presidential power.

His actions and words in the past three weeks, however, pulled down his approval ratings for his mistakes in the nationwide campaign and growing media speculations about his involvement in a bribery case surrounding his younger brother and nephew.

According to local newspaper Segyo Ilbo's poll released Tuesday, approval rating for Ban tumbled to 13.1 percent. It was far lower than 32.8 percent garnered by Moon Jae-in, former head of the biggest opposition Minjoo Party.

Following the presidential scandal, Ban's support scores declined as he is allegedly close to the impeached leader and her party, but Moon gradually increased his support scores and kept the position of frontrunner.

Support for Ban was slightly higher than 10.5 percent gained by Lee Jae-myung, mayor of Seongnam city to the southeast of Seoul who is affiliated with the Minjoo Party and has maintained the third place in recent months.

Ban's emotional response to aggressive local media reports is also believed to have disappointed not a few voters in the conservative bloc. Enditem