Meeting with special correspondents in Manhattan, Korean Foreign Minister and next UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon complained of backbiting forces that spread malicious rumors about him during his UN general secretary campaign, reports Yonhap.
In particular, he cited the Wordpress blog “Chapter 15.”
He said the blog of “unclear identity” had spread malicious rumors about him since the preliminary voting began. He also blamed suspicions raised by some foreign press that he was trying to “buy” the election on the influence of rumors spread by “Chapter 15.”
Almost makes me wish I’d bad-mouthed Ban on this blog—maybe I’d have gotten a mention by the next UN general secretary, too.
Ban also said the malicious rumors were to blame for the absurd questions Ban received in a foreign press conference immediately following the General Assembly vote. Ban was apparently asked whether he was connected with a particular religious group (namely, the Unification Church, i.e., the Moonies).
Ban said he wondered if one of his competitors was using a proxy to spread bad rumors about him. He also said he was hurt by questions by foreign reporters (damn foreign press—big meanies they are!) inquiring as to his relationship with Park Tong-sun. But luckily for Ban, he was able to clear up the misunderstandings and the problematic site is now closed (news flash for Ban—it ain’t).
Ban was especially peeved at talk in the foreign press that he lacked leadership. Because of this, and with the foreign press in mind, he made sure to include in his acceptance speech the part about “modest and quiet determination.”
In writing his speech, he got advice from a “famous scholar.” But with the Chuseok holiday approaching and time a’ flying, he had no time to show his speech to any foreigners.
Ban said that despite Japan reportedly casting a blank ballot during the fourth vote, Japan was very cooperative during the campaign. He also said he has a lot of personal history with Japanese UN ambassador Kenzo Oshima. The two apparently served in Washington at around the same time.
He also said that he got a good vibe from the Americans from the very beginning, noting that he would be the first UN general secretary hailing from a U.S. ally.
He added that he has no idea which nation cast three votes against him along with one empty ballot.
8 Comments
If Ban’s upset with ‘Chapter 15,’ he might put a hit out on Joshua; http://freekorea.us/?p=5861
He also had a good mouth-off about Japanese school textbooks, Yasukuni, Takeshima/Dokdo, and lamented the lack of historical understanding of Japanese politicians… at least until he was reminded that he’s the UNSG now and no one but Roh and his ilk want to hear that crap.
Ban isn’t the type to inspire and lead. Anyway the reason Ban is UNSG is because the ROK government wanted to see a Korean in a “prestigious” position. Look foward to 5 years of do nothing in the UN. Which reminds me, will the ROK government cough up the dough to all those countries that voted for Ban, as promised?
The blog quoted somebody saying Ban would be “more general than secretary”
He should at least feel at home in the U.N. surrounded by corrupt officials.
I find it funny how immodestly Ban keeps claiming how he is so very “modest” and “humble”.
Thanks for the link, Richardson. I just wish it didn’t have the be the most rambling, unfocused, long-winded thing I’ve written all year….
Chapter 15 is an excellent blog, and I hope this episode persuades the author to keep it going as a blog dedicated to watching Ban’s performance in office, which should be great blogging material. If it were my blog, I would paste Ban’s criticism into my banner.
mins0306: “5 years of do nothing in the UN” would be a dream come true for some of us.
I really have no idea what we’re getting with this guy. None.
NRO:
Despite this display of allied loyalty, nothing can hide South Korea’s increasing tendency to align with China — and protect the North. When Japan announced that it would beef up its strike capabilities in response to North Korean nuclear provocations, Seoul blamed Japan for increasing tensions. And this policy is a good reflection of popular sentiment: A recent poll has 40 percent of South Koreans blaming the United States for the nuclear standoff, whereas only 30 percent blame the North. Similarly, when North Korea announced plans to detonate an underground nuclear device, Beijing condemned the decision, but that was apparently the first time that China has singled North Korea out for any sort of criticism since the start of the talks.
http://article.nationalreview......dlN2YyZWE=
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[...] The other piece of interesting commentary comes to us via National Review Online, and concerns the new UN general secretary and blog fan Ban Ki-moon: Despite this display of allied loyalty, nothing can hide South Korea’s increasing tendency to align with China—and protect the North. When Japan announced that it would beef up its strike capabilities in response to North Korean nuclear provocations, Seoul blamed Japan for increasing tensions. And this policy is a good reflection of popular sentiment: A recent poll has 40 percent of South Koreans blaming the United States for the nuclear standoff, whereas only 30 percent blame the North. Similarly, when North Korea announced plans to detonate an underground nuclear device, Beijing condemned the decision, but that was apparently the first time that China has singled North Korea out for any sort of criticism since the start of the talks. [...]
[...] Already, Ban can see that what was popular in Seoul won’t cut it in the General Assembly. In the rest of the world, North Korea is a pariah. Besides, the man is highly sensitive about what bloggers say about him. “Taking the advantage of the U.N. Secretary-general’s authority and the U.N.’s functions, I plan to make the utmost efforts to actually improve the human rights situation in North Korea,” he said. [...]