Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Ahn hints at running in by-election in Bundang after transition committee
Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential transition committee, speaks with local media at the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Yonhap
By Kwon Mee-yoo
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's presidential transition team, hinted at running in the by-election for the Bundang electoral district in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, as the team wrapped up its 50-day journey, Friday.
He made the comments during the last event of the transition committee at the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Friday afternoon.
When asked whether he would run in the by-election, Ahn answered, "I would devote myself to an election victory in Bundang as well as to other regions in the capital area," after his job as head of the transition team is over.
The Bundang National Assembly seat was previously held by Kim Eun-hye, the president-elect's former spokesperson, who is now running for Gyeonggi Province governor.
"As Kim Eun-hye is vying for the Gyeonggi gubernatorial post, I have been receiving requests from inside and outside of the party to run in the Bundang by-election. I will try to get as many people elected for the development of Gyeonggi Province as well as cooperation with the government," Ahn said.
He also mentioned that his anti-virus software company, AhnLab, was one of the first businesses to build its headquarters in Bundang, the most populous district of Seongnam.
"When I was CEO of AhnLab, I decided to set up the headquarters in Bundang, considering the possibility of development in the area. I think I contributed to the Pangyo area becoming the 'Silicon Valley of Korea,'" Ahn said.
This by-election would be Ahn's first election representing the People Power Party (PPP), as his People Party merged with the PPP during the last presidential election. When Yoon and Ahn merged their candidacies, they agreed to form a coalition government and Yoon named Ahn to lead his presidential transition committee.