(LEAD) U.N. chief leaves open possibility of presidential bid

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details, CHANGES headline)
By Lee Haye-ah

SEOGWIPO, South Korea, May 25 (Yonhap) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday left open the possibility of running for South Korea's presidency, saying he will contemplate his future after finishing his tenure.

"When I return on January 1st next year, I'll be a South Korean, whereas until now I've held a U.N. passport," he said during a meeting with a group of senior South Korean journalists at a hotel on this southern resort island of Jeju. "I'll contemplate and decide then what I should do as a South Korean citizen and may ask for your advice if necessary."

The U.N. chief, whose second five-year term ends in December, has long been considered a strong contender in the December 2017 presidential election.

Wednesday's remarks are the clearest indication yet that he is considering a bid for president. Until now, he has sought to distance himself from domestic politics, saying he wants to focus on his current job.

Ban, who arrived here earlier in the day to attend an international forum, stressed he believes it would be best to successfully fulfill his current duties and end his term well.

On North Korea, the U.N. chief said he has maintained high-level dialogue with the communist state.

"I think I may be the only one to have maintained a dialogue channel between the South and the North," he said. "If there is an opportunity, I will continue to make efforts."

hague@yna.co.kr
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