Ahn Cheol-soo in political spotlight

Decision to donate wealth interpreted as preliminary step to enter politics


Entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo is back into the political limelight after he unveiled his plan on Monday to donate a large portion of his wealth to society.

Although he insisted that it has long been his plan to fulfill his social responsibility as part of the privileged upper echelon, the decision was construed as another dramatic move to raise his political profile ahead of next year’s presidential election.

Ahn has frequently been suggested as a dark horse candidate for president in 2012, despite denying any such plans.

“I only put into action what I have long thought of,” Ahn told a throng of reporters as he arrived at the school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, in the morning.

“Through my lectures and books, I have talked a lot about social responsibility and dedication. I just put that into practice.”

Ahn, who has yet to clarify whether he will enter politics, remained silent when asked about the speculation that the donation is a political move to brighten his prospects in the presidential race.

In an e-mail message sent to the employees of AhnLab, Ahn said he would donate half his stocks worth 150 billion won ($133 million) in the country’s biggest antivirus software firm to help educate children from low-income families.

Ahn, currently serving as dean of Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, owns 37.1 percent of the shares in the firm he founded in 1995.

In the e-mail, he also urged others to join him in donating to society. Referring to this, some observers said he is seeking to form a new political force or bringing in a new form of politics that sets him apart from other politicians.

“The existence of a company has a noble meaning beyond just generating profits. I believe that there are also bigger values that are to contribute to society, aside from just realizing individual dreams. Now, the time has come to realize the values,” he said.

“My wish is as some of my friends concurred with me, many others would join the efforts to contribute to enhancing our society.”

Ahn has recently been at the center of the political talks as he has risen as a potential top presidential runner with a wide backing from younger voters who admire him for his entrepreneurialism, nonpartisanship and willingness to keep facing challenges.

Ahn’s emergence came as the public had grown disenchanted with establishment politicians who they claim have become ensnared in wasteful partisan disputes in pursuit of their own self-interests.

In some of the popularity polls, Ahn was found to be even ahead of former Grand National Party chairwoman Park Geun-hye, who had long been the indisputable frontrunner.

Some political analysts said that Ahn appears to be taking advantage of “non-political values” to differentiate himself from others and further raise his political profile.

“It appears that he has achieved the maximum political effect through his ‘non-political’ steps at a time when the general populace have become disenchanted with partisan, established political circles,” Yoon Pyung-joong, political philosophy professor at Hanshin University, told The Korea Herald.

“His moves were something that broke the framework of the existing political playbook, which apparently drew keen attention. Although he dismisses any political interpretation of his donation, it cannot help but be seen as political.”

As he is back into the spotlight, observers anticipated that Ahn may accelerate his moves on the way toward Cheong Wa Dae.

The main opposition Democratic Party and others have wooed him ahead of the general and presidential elections next year. But he has so far rejected all the offers in what some call an attempt to distance himself from partisan politics.

Some observers also pointed out that he indirectly presented an outline for his welfare policy, a politically crucial issue for presidential candidates, as he said he wanted to offer educational opportunities for needy students in the e-mail message.

“One of the numerous issues facing our society is confusion in terms of values and unfair distribution of resources. At the center of this issue is education,” he said.

Lawmakers from rival parties showed different responses over the donation plan.

“It is his declaration that he would enter politics given that he made the announcement at a politically sensitive juncture,” said a GNP lawmaker on condition of anonymity.

The DP welcomed the donation plan.

“Ahn tries to fulfill his moral duty as part of the social leadership, which is something that we should welcome,” DP spokesperson Lee Yong-sub told reporters. “Ahn is already doing ‘big’ politics considering that politics is to wipe away the tears of the underprivileged.”

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)