A Pied Piper of Korean Politics

South Koreans elect their president every five years and the next election is scheduled for November, 2012. It’s a bit too early, therefore, to try and predict an outcome but, judging by the way things are developing, a 49-year-old computer guru and hitherto rank political outsider is expected to win the election hands down.

Ahn Cheol-soo, founder of anti-virus vaccine firm, AhnLab, emerged recently, like a shooting star, as the front-runner for the next presidential election. According to the latest opinion poll, he is heavily favored to win the presidency with more than 50 percent of support, far outstripping the nearest contender, Park Geun-hye, who had long been regarded as a clear leader among possible candidates. She is the elder daughter of President Park Chung-hee and former chairwoman of the ruling conservative party, Hannaradang.

This astonishing development is taking place even before Ahn himself said anything about his intention to run for president, much less enunciating publicly what his political philosophy is and what kind of policies he would implement if and when he becomes the nation’s chief executive.

Ahn is riding the crests of sweeping popularity and is tantalizing his followers by refusing to clarify his political ambition immediately. Perhaps, he is acting on a carefully worked out strategy. At a recent press conference, he said he was not considering forming a political party or running in the elections for representatives to the National Assembly in April. But he declined to say whether he would run for president.

The sudden rise in Ahn’s popularity is attributed by analysts and commentators to a widespread negative perception of the corrupt and arrogant politicians of today. A vast number of voters, especially those in their 20s through 40s, are fed up with incompetent and self-serving politicians. That is why Ahn’s emergence on the political stage, however reluctant he may be, is a breath of fresh air to most voters, no doubt.

A physician-turned-IT mogul, Ahn said earlier last month that he would donate half of his stocks in AhnLab he founded in 1995, to help relieve the poor of their economic hardship. Ahn is said to own some 37 percent of AhnLab shares, currently worth 302.4 billion won (269 million U.S. dollars). His pledge was seen by many as part of preparations for his presidential bid.

Earlier in September, Ahn was criticized in the National Assembly over a sudden surge in AhnLab stock price which has nearly tripled in value after rumors circulated that he would run for Seoul mayor. He resigned as CEO of AhnLab in March 2005, but has been serving as chairman of directors. He is also dean of Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology.

Ahn became an overnight sensation after he has reportedly expressed interest in running in the mayoral by-election in Seoul on Oct. 26. But he later bowed out and threw his support for little known leftist political activist and his friend Park Won-soon. And thanks to Ahn’s well-publicized support, Park scored an easy victory over a ruling party candidate.

It is still unclear where Ahn stands politically but his association with Seoul Mayor Park is any indication, he would probably be a “progressive” candidate, backed by all the leftist groups that are now opposing President Lee Myung-bak and his ruling conservative party.

To be sure, between now and next November, a lot of things could happen so that his political fortune could take a wrong turn. But as long as today’s messy political conditions persist with politicians doggedly following their sleazy and disgusting ways, we can safely predict that Ahn could be swept into the Blue House by this time next year. For, his bandwagon seems to have started rolling already and lots of voters are getting on board. Like those children in Hamelin, Germany, who followed the Pied Piper blindly, they are determined to follow him without knowing exactly where they are going.
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