Ahn, 50, was running second in an opinion poll published after his announcement yesterday that he would challenge ruling party candidate Park Geun Hye and the main opposition’s Moon Jae In to be elected to a single five-year term to govern Asia’s fourth-biggest economy.
A trained medical doctor who went on to create software company Ahnlab, Ahn must confront questions about his lack of governing experience to win voters dissatisfied with growing income disparity and rising youth unemployment. His candidacy may hinder opposition efforts to unseat the ruling party or weaken Park’s chances if he forges an alliance with Moon.
“People are expressing their desire for political reform through me,” Ahn said in his 15-minute speech yesterday. “By running in this presidential election, I want to fulfill their desires.”
Ahn will pay his respects at the national cemetery today and attend a farewell party at his company headquarters in Seongnam, south of Seoul, a day after resigning from Ahnlab’s board to participate in the Dec. 19 election. In his declaration speech, Ahn promised to donate his stake in the company, worth more than $300 million, if he is elected.
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reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com