Ahn crosses ideological divides in visit to presidents' graves

Computer software mogul-turned-presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo on Thursday visited the graves of three Korean presidents symbolizing the conservative and liberal camps in what appeared to be a move to demonstrate his pledge to achieve national unity.

In his first public appearance since declaring his presidential bid on Wednesday, Ahn arrived at the National Cemetery in southern Seoul at 10 a.m. and visited the graves of South Korea's first President Rhee Syngman, the authoritarian conservative President Park Chung-hee and the liberal Nobel Peace Prize winner, President Kim Dae-jung.

"There are two reasons why everyone in public office visits the National Cemetery," the 50-year-old founder of South Korea's largest anti-virus software firm, Ahnlab, told reporters there. "An intention to learn the history, and an intention to inherit the achievements but correct the mistakes (of the past)."

Ahn also visited the grave of Park Tae-joon, the founder of South Korea's top steelmaker POSCO who served as prime minister under Kim, and graves of war veterans.

In the visitor's book, he left the words, "I will strive for a new change in the Republic of Korea."

After months of soul searching, the former medical doctor announced in a nationally televised news conference Wednesday that he will run in December's election to realize the people's desire for political reform.

He also stressed the people's wish for national unity and indicated he will aim for that goal during his campaign.

"If we divide our supporters and the people in the election process, even if we win the election, we'll only have won the hearts of half the people," he said during the news conference.

Ahn's visit to the graves could be seen as an effort to put those words into action.

After winning the nominations of their respective parties, ruling Saenuri Party candidate Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) also visited the graves of past presidents, usually one of the first official acts of all Korean candidates for public office. The tradition provides a way for candidates to reflect on the past before moving forward.

Park visited the graves of her father, President Park Chung-hee, Rhee and Kim and also made a surprise visit to the burial place of late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun.

On the other hand, Moon Jae-in only paid respects to Kim and war veterans, and purposely avoided the graves of other chief executives who did not share his political views, a move that drew fire from conservatives and the ruling Saenuri Party.

The late Park ruled the country with an iron fist for 18 years, achieving rapid industrialization in the aftermath of the 1950-53 Korean War but clamping down on dissidents opposing his dictatorship. Kim had been at the forefront of those demanding democracy.

Ahn was accompanied on his visit by members of his campaign team, including former DUP lawmaker Park Sun-sook.

Park will be in charge of the overall campaign process, according to Ahn's spokesman Yoo Min-young. She served as a public relations secretary and the first female spokesperson under late President Kim, and is expected to act as Ahn's bridge to the DUP.

Ahn and Moon are widely expected to unify their candidacies ahead of the Dec. 19 polls as neither of them would be able to beat Park if they split the opposition vote.

After leaving the cemetery, Ahn went to Seoul National University to submit his resignation as dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology.

After leaving the cemetery, Ahn went to Seoul National University to submit his resignation as dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology and then attended a farewell ceremony at Ahnlab, the nation's largest software company he founded in the 1990s.

"I have no option but to leave here for a bigger mission," Ahn told 200 Ahnlab employees in an emotional farewell party held at its headquarters in Pangyo, south of Seoul.

Ahn resigned as Ahnlab CEO in 2005 to study business at the University of Pennsylvania, but has remained chief of its board of directors until lately.

In November last year, he announced he was giving half his Ahnlab shares, which worth roughly US$200 million, to charity, and he has promised to donate the remainder if he wins the upcoming race. (Yonhap)