Software guru says ‘willing to endure’ politics, if he has to


Ahn Cheol-soo, a software guru supported by many young Koreans for the next president, shook politics with comments that observers said revealed he might be leaning toward a presidential bid.

“I can endure politics, if only I can be a tool for the development of our society,” Ahn said during a lecture Tuesday at Seoul National University. “But if those who are already in politics do well, I don’t need to.” 

The 50-year-old former CEO of an anti-virus firm has been ambiguous on his political intentions so far, although public polls suggest he could beat Park Geun-hye, chief of the ruling Saenuri Party and its probable presidential candidate, in a one-on-one contest for the Blue House.

Wednesday’s remarks, however, were seen as the biggest hint yet at his presidential plans.

“The latest comments are the most political to have come from Ahn and it sounds to me that he wanted to make clear that he could enter politics,” Shin Yul, a politics professor at Myungji University, said Wednesday.

Rep. Lee Hye-hoon of the Saenuri Party weighed in on a bid by Ahn for president.

“Ahn poses as if he is less political, but he is making steps with political calculations,” the ruling party lawmaker said.

Kim Hyun-joon, another politics professor at Myungji, said Ahn may be finding his place in politics amid a decline in support for the main opposition Democratic United Party.

“The DUP, with mishaps over the candidate nomination process and others, is giving the reason and room for him to seek a role in politics,” he said.

Rival parties were seen gauging the potential impact of Ahn in election dynamics, with the parliamentary vote just two weeks away and a presidential one due at the end of the year.

In Wednesday’s lecture, Ahn said he was more likely to seek an independent path if he enters politics.

“If ever I join politics, I will not lock myself to the given logic of any of the rival political camps,” he said.

So far, Ahn has been considered to be leaning toward the liberal opposition as he has been critical of the current administration of President Lee Myung-bak and the Saenuri Party.

Lee In-young, a member of the DUP’s leadership council, said: “We will not wait for Ahn to make a move. With or without him, we will strive for a regime change.”

DUP chairwoman Han Myeong-sook said that she expects Ahn to play a role in the upcoming elections.

“We didn’t have any talks on this, but I hope he can play a positive role,” she said.

Polls show that the DUP, after a big early lead, is now locked in a neck-and-neck race with the Saenuri Party in the April election.

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