Star computer software entrepreneur Ahn Cheol-soo said Monday that his proposed charity foundation will focus on assisting education and job projects to help the underprivileged move up the social ladder, but declined to comment on whether his decision was related to his political ambitions.
The remarks come after the announcement in November that the founder of the nation's largest anti-computer virus software firm AhnLab Inc. planned to donate half of his 37 percent stake in the firm.
"The foundation will put top priority on projects on jobs, education for poor students and communication between generations as they were considered as the most pressing issues," Ahn said at a briefing in Seoul. "In light of this foundation, I hope many people help each other and spread a giving culture."
The foundation, whose name is not yet decided, will be directed by Park Young-sook, a leading female activist, and four others on its board of directors. The 80-year-old Park, who has led several charity campaigns, served as an opposition lawmaker in the 1980s and worked for the presidential committee for national development under late President Kim Dae-jung.
Ahn said his foundation, which is set to launch next month, will first start a project to support financial aid to self-sustaining social entrepreneurs and also plans to help poor students.
Prior to the announcement, Ahn met Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who established the world's largest charity foundation, to receive advice on charity projects during his visit to the U.S. that included meetings with other IT moguls in Silicon Valley.
The 50-year-old, who now teaches at Seoul National University's Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, has no prior experience in politics, but speculation has spread that he may consider running for president in this year's election.
During Monday's announcement, however, Ahn refused to answer questions related to his political plans, adding he will not get involved in the management of the foundation.
Ahn, who is popular among young voters for his clean and upright image, gained fame in the 1990s after he established the anti-virus software firm and let others use some of its products for free. The medical doctor-turned-professor has received offers from both the ruling and opposition camps, but remained vague about his political ambitions.
AhnLab's shares rose 2.5 percent to 117,500 won (US$90.87) earlier in the day. (Yonhap)