Reports that Ahn Cheol-soo has decided to run for the presidency jolted rival political groups Monday, as they shift focus to preparations for a December vote after last week’s parliamentary elections.

A software guru and now dean of Seoul National University’s graduate school, Ahn has been vague about his political ambitions despite being more popular than most politicians considered potential presidential candidates.

The JoongAng Ilbo reported Monday that the 50-year-old made up his mind to run, citing an opposition politician who claimed to have met him recently. 

Ahn asked the unidentified figure to join his presidential camp, which will be set up independently of the established parties, the newspaper said. It also said Ahn was considering a series of steps to build his presidential profile, including attending a debate session at Kwankun Club and appearing on a TV talk show.
Ahn neither denied nor confirmed the report.

However, some people close to him said the paper looked too far ahead to say Ahn has made up his mind to run.

“I think the report was stretching the truth. It is too early to say categorically that he will make a bid,” said Rep. Kim Hyo-seok of the main opposition Democratic United Party.

Ahn’s friend and attorney Kang In-cheol also said Ahn had not decided, nor told others of his “decision.”

Last month, Ahn dropped the biggest hint of his political ambitions, saying that he would endure politics if that were a way for him to contribute to bettering society.

Ahn, supported by young, moderate voters, is seen as a dark horse in the race for the Blue House amid a deepening rivalry between the ruling conservatives and the liberal opposition.

On the side of the conservatives, the chief of ruling Saenuri Party Park Geun-hye is the clear frontrunner for the presidential nomination.

The DUP has a pack of presidential hopefuls, led by Moon Jae-in, a former aide to the late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun. However, DUP members remain unsure whether their candidates are strong enough to beat Park.

Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, a former DUP chief, called on Ahn to join the opposition bloc and seek its nomination.

“I think he should join our party and compete with other presidential aspirants for nomination,” he said on a radio program. “I know of the public dissatisfaction with partisan politics, but (a presidential candidate) shouldn’t just turn a blind eye to it.”

DUP leaders say that they party should unite all liberal forces against Saenuri to retake the presidency. Ahn appears to be a centrist, leaning more left than right, and critical of the current conservative administration of President Lee Myung-bak.

Saenuri Rep. Lee Han-koo played down Ahn’s potential as a presidential candidate.

“Professor Ahn seems to be good at soothing young minds, but does that solve any problem? I am not sure yet of his ability to solve problems,” the politician said.

After last week’s general elections, Saenuri chief Park saw her poll numbers topping that of Ahn for the first time in months in a hypothetical match for the Blue House. The ruling party posted a surprise victory in the April 11 National Assembly elections, which was widely credited to Park.

A public opinion poll conducted by Realmeter a day after general election showed Park beating Ahn 47.9 percent to 44.8 percent in a hypothetical matchup.

In the two-way race between Park and Moon Jae-in, a potential liberal presidential candidate, she was projected to win by 51.6 percent to Moon’s 38.5 percent.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)