By Chung Min-uck
Since Ahn Cheol-soo declared he would not run for the Seoul mayoral election, the big question has whether he will enter next year’s presidential race.
This is because Ahn has emerged as a strong favorite in various polls which show the software mogul even overtaking hitherto frontrunner Park Geun-hye of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP).
Despite the outcome of the surveys, Ahn and his family are playing it down, rebuffing any possibility of him running for president.
“I agonized for few days even over the mayoral position. I think president is not a job anyone can do,” Ahn said Wednesday before a “Youth Concert” lecture in Gumi, Gyeonggi Province.
Ahn’s family members are apparently dissuading him from entering the political circle.
His father, Ahn Young-mo, 81, says he opposes a presidential bid by his son. His wife also expressed strong opposition in a phone interview with a local daily, Wednesday.
Ahn’s father reasoned that his son has no experience in politics and he does not want to see him suffer by taking up the heavy task as president. But Ahn’s father changed his stance slightly the next day saying that he would “basically not stop him from entering (the political scene). He can make his own decisions as he is over 50.”
Regarding the question of whether he would enter into politics, Ahn said “I will focus on school work for now. At present, I have no plan.”
Ahn is currently the dean of Seoul National University Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology.
Concerning Ahn’s popularity, insiders say that the IT expert will become involved in politics as he will receive calls from political parties.
The opposition bloc is already making such moves.
Rhyu Si-min, leader of the People’s Participation Party, said during a radio interview on Thursday that “though challenging (for the presidency) is something that he should decide by himself, it is still a desirable thing.”
Rhyu also welcomed the fact that a newcomer is winning trust from the people at a time when incumbent politicians are losing it.
Rep. Chung Mong-joon, former GNP chairman and one of the conservative presidential candidates, called on Ahn to join the conservatives. He said Ahn is “at least not pro-North Korea and although critical of big conglomerates he supports free democracy and a free market.”
“I think (Ahn) could get along with the GNP,” said Chung Sunday.
Even if Ahn turns to politics, it is unlikely he would link up with the GNP as he said earlier he would not run for the ruling party if he were to participate in the mayoral election.
Regardless of his future path, his existence is already felt in the political arena.
While both parties are busy trying to change their old strategies battered by the “Ahn phenomenon” Park, the GNP’s leading presidential candidate, is slowly starting to prepare for next year’s race. She visited an employment center in Namdong, Incheon, on Wednesday and plans to open new offices next month.