Maverick lawmaker Ahn to announce creation of new party next week

Independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo plans to formally announce the formation of a new political party next week, a close aide said Sunday, in a move expected to upend the landscape of the nation's opposition camp.

Ahn, a former anti-virus software mogul, was elected to parliament in April's by-election after he dropped out of last year's presidential race to boost the chances of the main opposition candidate.

He has long been a focus of media attention as he enjoyed huge popularity among young and liberal voters ahead of the Dec. 19 presidential election, posing a serious challenge to the political establishment.

"Preparations (for the party's creation) have made significant progress," said the aide. "The party's formation will be declared around Nov. 24, though the exact date has yet to be set."

The creation of the new political party is expected to be completed in February next year, he added.

Ahn's envisioned political party is widely expected to bring some changes to the political establishment and cause a heated struggle for leadership in the opposition camp.

In late June, Rep. Ahn offered his vision for a new political party centered on civic freedom and a fair society, saying, "We must restore the community of coexistence through structural reforms in various sectors across society."

The founder of South Korea's largest anti-virus software firm AhnLab Inc. had entered last year's presidential campaign with huge support from young liberal voters despite having no political experience, painting himself as an outsider untainted by party politics.

Ahn later withdrew from the race to back opposition candidate Moon Jae-in, who lost to the then ruling-party candidate Park Geun-hye.