(LEAD) U.N. chief Ban meets retired politicians in S. Korea

(ATTN: ADDS agenda at dinner meeting in paras 4, photo)

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has held a series of meetings with retired politicians in Seoul, including former prime ministers, amid growing speculation that the native South Korean may run in next year's presidential election, sources said Saturday.

He returned to South Korea on Friday from a short trip to Tokyo to attend a G7 summit.

According to the sources, Ban paid a visit to former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil in the morning and held a dinner meeting with a group of retired politicians who still have influence on the country's political landscape and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin.

During the dinner meeting, Ban said he will carry out his duties faithfully as the U.N. Secretary-General until his term ends, according to the participants. No domestic politics-related issues were discussed during dinner, they said.

In the clearest indication yet of his presidential ambitions, Ban on Wednesday said he would "contemplate" what he will do as a South Korean citizen when he returns to his home country after completing his two terms as the U.N. helmsman at the end of this year.

In a departure from his previously noncommittal stance over domestic politics, he even said, "Political leaders should strive harder for national unity," remarks translated by pundits here that he has a presidential bid in mind.

Meanwhile, Ban will attend the Rotary International Convention in Goyang, just outside of Seoul, and visit the ruling party stronghold of Gyeongsang to tour a UNESCO-listed folk village on Sunday, as well as deliver a keynote speech for a U.N. conference in Gyeongju, 371 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Monday.

He is set to return to New York on Monday.

sam@yna.co.kr
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