Ahn Cheol-soo wants to emulate Lincoln

By Jun Ji-hye

Ahn Cheol-soo holds a child at Incheon International Airport upon his return from the United States, Monday. / Korea Times photo Sohn Yong-seok

Former independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo returned home from the United States, Monday, where he and his family stayed after the Dec. 19 presidential election.

Prior to his return, the founder of the nation's largest anti-virus software firm, AhnLab, announced he would run in the April 24 by-election in Seoul’s Nowon district.

“I decided to run in the by-election to start new politics. I will walk the road even if it is strewn with thorns as long as it’s for the people,” he said at the press conference right after his arrival at the Incheon International Airport.

He said, “The region is in the capital area, a barometer of public sentiment. I decided to resume my political career step by step by solving many pending problems such as aging, housing and education issues in the region.”

Apologizing for failing to meet the public’s expectations for administration change during the presidential election, he said, “I feel huge responsibility. Everything is the result of my incompetence.”

He said he will make up for this by lessening the burden of people.

Regarding the deadlock at the National Assembly over President Park Geun-hye’s government restructuring, Ahn said, “The side who makes a concession will gain the public recognition.”

Over whether he will establish the new party, he said he would respond at a later date as “nothing is decided yet.”

Before boarding a flight at San Francisco International Airport, Ahn told reporters, “I have met many people and listened to them. I made the decision to run for the seat after carefully consulting with them.”

He stressed that his decision was the result of a long period of reflection.

As for the government retooling bill, he said, “During my stay in the U.S., I was impressed by the movie ‘Lincoln,’ which showed how to think strategically in order to persuade the ruling and opposition parties. I think politics has to produce an outcome.”

The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) faces the greatest threat from Ahn’s return.

According to a survey of 1,239 people conducted by Gallup Korea last week, the leading opposition party could suffer a significant setback if Ahn establishes his own party.

Of those surveyed, 23 percent said they would back Ahn’s party, while 11 percent responded that they would endorse the DUP. About 37 percent of respondents said they would support the ruling Saenuri Party.

The survey showed that 7 percent of supporters would abandon the Saenuri Party, while 10 percent said they would leave the DUP to support Ahn.

Mindful of possible changes in the political landscape, some DUP members have already attempted to damage Ahn’s reputation by revealing behind-the-scenes stories of negotiations between him and the DUP’s former candidate Moon Jae-in over forming a single candidacy during last year’s presidential election.

Rep. Hong Young-pyo said Monday in a radio appearance, “Ahn asked Moon to refer to him as future president as a condition for his support during election campaigning.”

Han Sang-jin, who is in charge of the DUP’s election assessment committee, also said last week, “Ahn said he would enter the DUP if he became the opposition’s single candidate.”

In response, Ahn’s side said that reports of such requests were nonsense.

The possible split of opposition supporters in the Nowon by-election is another challenge the DUP and other minor parties are worried about.

The DUP officially announced it will field candidates in every region as the leading opposition party.

Kim Ji-sun, the wife of former lawmaker Roh Hoi-chan, co-chairman of the Progressive Justice Party (PJP), also announced Sunday her bid for the seat as a PJP candidate.

The worst case scenario for the opposition would be three opposition candidates, including Ahn, competing with a candidate from the ruling party, which could possibly result in a victory for the Saenuri Party.

When asked if he plans to form a single candidate with other oppositions, he said, “I will not make the politically motivated move.”