By Lee Tae-hoon
Nearly one year has passed since Ahn Cheol-soo, a software tycoon and university dean, emerged as a strong presidential contender following his expression of interest in running for Seoul mayor.
The 50-year-old dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University (SNU) has reportedly been recruiting top-notch campaign managers and sharpening his strategies.
Keum Tae-sup, a lawyer who has close ties with Ahn, claims that the latter is meeting numerous people in search of talent and to exchange views with his potential political supporters.
“Unless something extraordinary happens, he will not withdraw his (presidential) bid,” he said.
Nevertheless, the debate continues over whether or not the liberal-minded IT mogul should enter politics as an independent or join the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) as the Dec. 19 presidential election draws near.
Political pundits say a growing number of signs indicate that Ahn will run in the presidential election on his own without seeking political affiliation due to the public’s deep-seated distrust of existing parties.
They point out that the famed doctor-turned-professor will likely opt to choose a path that incumbent Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon successfully pursued.
Human rights lawyer-turned activist Park was able to win last year’s mayoral by-election thanks mainly to Ahn’s support and his winning in a showdown to select the unified candidate of the opposition camp with the DUP primary winner.
Leaders of the DUP remain open to form a political alliance as none of its candidates appears to be a match to Rep. Park Geun-hye, the presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party.
However, they are hesitant to invite Ahn for another showdown as the DUP may end up losing its chance to field a candidate.
“We cannot afford to let Ahn run in the presidential election as an independent,” a senior party official said, noting that the DUP will lose its credibility and political clout if it makes another big concession.
He noted that the most ideal option for the DUP would be for Ahn to agree to launch a coalition government with the party as its leading presidential contender Moon Jae-in suggested in May this year.
“It would be ideal for Ahn to join the DUP and have the role of either prime minister or president with the winner of our party’s presidential primary race,” he said.
Some DUP lawmakers point out that if Ahn decides to run the presidential election as an independent, the DUP will lose some 15 billion won ($13.2 million) of political funds expected to be granted to the liberal party.
“It is not wise for a political contender to lose legitimate funds given by the National Election Commission (NEC) to a political party,” a DUP lawmaker said.
He argued that Ahn might be mulling creating his own political party with other prominent political and social figures to make use of the NEC funds.
A considerable number of Ahn’s supporters, including SNU law professor Cho Kook, maintain that the founder of AhnLab, Korea’s biggest anti-virus software firm should put some distance between himself and the DUP.
“Even if Ahn becomes a united candidate with the DUP, he will not be able to defeat Park,” Cho said, noting that Ahn’s affiliation with the scandal ridden liberal party could only backfire.