By Kim Youjng-jin
Software entrepreneur-turned professor Ahn Cheol-soo is in the process of securing advisors in case he decides to join December’s presidential election, a close friend said Wednesday.
Keum Tae-sup, a lawyer with close ties to the 50-year-old Ahn said on a radio show that the software mogul was exchanging ideas with potential advisors so he could decide as soon as possible whether to join the race.
“Through these efforts, many people have expressed a desire to join Ahn’s group, if he decides to declare his candidacy for the presidential election.” he added.
Noted Seoul National University professor Cho Gook will be likely among such advisors, he said.
Keum did not elaborate on when Ahn might make his decision, though some observers said he may try to do so before, Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving that falls on Sept. 30.
The lawyer defended Ahn against allegations that he lied about drinking at hostess bars, raising the possibility that police conducted illegal surveillance on the professor. Police have denied such allegations.
Reports earlier raised the allegation that Ahn frequented high-priced room salons.
Election watchers say Ahn may be the only contender capable of vying for the presidency against Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party. Polls show he would be neck-and-neck with the conservative heavyweight should he join the race.
The main opposition Democratic United Party has been courting Ahn to join it so that it has a single candidate to compete against the Saenuri Party’s Park.
Despite mounting calls for him to join the race, Ahn has been keeping his distance from the competition, raising speculation over his intentions regarding the presidential election slated to take place on Dec. 19.
Earlier, Rep. Moon Jae-in, now frontrunner presidential candidate of the DUP called on Ahn to form an alliance with the party to raise the chances for the opposition camp to win the presidential election.