U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he will stay clear of Korean politics after his retirement amid speculation in Korea that he is a potential presidential candidate.

Lawmaker Park Jin of the ruling Grand National Party, who chairs the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee, said Sunday that Ban made the comment Saturday at a dinner with Korean lawmakers visiting New York for the annual parliamentary audit of Seoul's mission to the U.N.

This was the first time for Ban to openly express his intention to stay away from Korean politics, especially in a meeting with ruling and opposition lawmakers.

Ban reportedly believes that further controversy will not help him perform his duty as secretary-general.