IT guru Ahn Cheol-soo was picked as the boss that salaried workers most want to work under, a survey released Thursday found.

Ahn, who founded the computer vaccine developer AhnLab in 1995, one of Korea’s first-generation IT startups, got 46.9 percent of the vote in a survey of 796 salaried workers by Job Korea, a career portal. 

Respondents cited his “soft leadership” that would create a free working environment and encourage employees to show their full potential.

Ahn, 49, has received much praise from the public for social responsibility and helping minorities.

He now serves as dean of Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University.

In the survey, Ahn was followed by comedian Yoo Jae-seok and Apple cofounder Steve Jobs who received 25.1 percent and 12 percent of support, respectively.

People said Yoo, who is nicknamed “MC of the nation,” would take care of his employees well, while those who picked Jobs said “they wanted to work with a genius.”

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)