Ahn Cheol-soo declared his candidacy for the by-election in the Nowon district in northern Seoul

A maverick politician, who turned himself from a physician to a developer of a computer virus dispatcher, is expected to try his hand again, this time running as a candidate of a National Assembly seat in Seoul.

Now in San Francisco, Ahn Chul-soo of the Ahnlab fame, declared his candidacy for the bi-election in the Nowon district in northern Seoul scheduled for April 24.

Ahn’s political history goes back to his stepping away from the Seoul mayoral run in support of the current Mayor Park Won-soon and then coming back for a presidential run last year.

The graduate of the medical school of Seoul National University, however, decided not to go the distance and left for the United States in December.

There have been a host of speculations about his intentions to launch a new political party but insiders said Ahn has decided to take the first step by running in the bi-election in April after returning from San Francisco March 10.

Rep. Song Ho-chang, an independent lawmaker, ran Ahn’s camp for the presidential election and said he confirmed in a telephone conversation with Ahn that he will run in the bi-election.

Whether or not Ahn continues to harbor intentions of establishing a separate political party is still unclear but the opposition Democratic United Party, whose presidential candidate Moon Jae-in lost to the current President Park Geun-hye, has been working overtime to try and recruit him.