Jump to content

Ahn Cheol-soo: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Line 56: Line 56:
| mr = An Ch'ŏlsu
| mr = An Ch'ŏlsu
}}
}}
'''Ahn Cheol-soo''' ({{ko-hhrm|안철수}} {{IPA-ko|an tɕʰʌl.s͈u|}}; born 26 February 1962) is a [[centrist]] [[South Korea]]n politician, physician, and software entrepreneur, who is currently a member of the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]] and was the [[People's Party (South Korea, 2016)|People's Party]] nominee for the [[South Korean presidential election, 2017|presidential election in 2017]]. He was a founding co-leader and is currently the party leader of the People's Party.
'''Ahn Cheol-soo''' ({{ko-hhrm|안철수}} {{IPA-ko|an tɕʰʌl.s͈u|}}; born 26 February 1962) is a [[centrist]] [[South Korea]]n politician, physician, and software entrepreneur, who was the [[People's Party (South Korea, 2016)|People's Party]] nominee for the [[South Korean presidential election, 2017|presidential election in 2017]]. He was a founding co-leader and is currently the party leader of the People's Party.


He was previously a co-founder and co-chairman of the [[New Politics Alliance for Democracy|NPAD]] from March to July 2014. He ran as an independent candidate for the [[South Korean presidential election, 2012|presidential election in 2012]], but withdrew a month before the election took place to support [[Moon Jae-in]] whom he ran against in 2017.
He was previously a co-founder and co-chairman of the [[New Politics Alliance for Democracy|NPAD]] from March to July 2014. He ran as an independent candidate for the [[South Korean presidential election, 2012|presidential election in 2012]], but withdrew a month before the election took place to support [[Moon Jae-in]] whom he ran against in 2017.

Revision as of 21:17, 12 February 2018

Template:Korean name

Ahn Cheol-soo
안철수
Chairman of the People's Party
Assumed office
27 August 2017
Preceded byPark Jie-won
In office
2 February 2016 – 29 June 2016
Serving with Chun Jung-bae
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPark Jie-won
Member of the National Assembly
In office
25 April 2013 – 15 April 2017
Preceded byRoh Hoe-chan
Succeeded byTBD
ConstituencySeoul Nowon C
Chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy
In office
26 March 2014 – 31 July 2014
Serving with Kim Han-gil
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byMoon Jae-in
Personal details
Born (1962-02-26) 26 February 1962 (age 62)
Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
Political partyPeople's Party (2016–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2013–14; 2015–16)
NPAD (2014–15)
SpouseKim Mi-kyung
Children1 daughter
Alma materSeoul National University
University of Pennsylvania
OccupationPhysician
Professor
Software entrepreneur
Known forV3 (antivirus software)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance South Korea
Branch/service Republic of Korea Navy
Years of service1992–1994
Rank Daewi (Lieutenant)
[1][2]
Ahn Cheol-soo
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationAn Cheol-su
McCune–ReischauerAn Ch'ŏlsu

Ahn Cheol-soo (Korean: 안철수 [an tɕʰʌl.s͈u]; born 26 February 1962) is a centrist South Korean politician, physician, and software entrepreneur, who was the People's Party nominee for the presidential election in 2017. He was a founding co-leader and is currently the party leader of the People's Party.

He was previously a co-founder and co-chairman of the NPAD from March to July 2014. He ran as an independent candidate for the presidential election in 2012, but withdrew a month before the election took place to support Moon Jae-in whom he ran against in 2017.

Ahn founded AhnLab, Inc., an antivirus software company, in 1995. He was chairman of the board and Chief Learning Officer of AhnLab until September 2012, and remains the company's largest stakeholder. Prior to entering politics, Ahn served as dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University until September 2012.

Early life and education

Ahn was born on 26 February 1962, in Miryang, South Korea, while his father was on military service there; he subsequently moved with his family to Busan, where he grew up.[3] Ahn was known to have loved to read books growing up: at one point finishing every single book at his elementary school library.[4]

He received his Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in physiology from Seoul National University between 1980 and 1991. He became the youngest chief of professors at Dankook University medical college at 27 years of age, marking his first career as a medical doctor.[5] Ahn researched computer antivirus software programs as a graduate student to his later years as a medical doctor, working as a doctor in the day and researching computer vaccines at night. He once revealed he would work on his antivirus software 3-6am, while sleeping 4–5 hours every night; Ahn went on to emphasize that he even forgot to tell his significant other he was heading off to the military when he entered conscription.[6] His research eventually led to the creation of the V3 antivirus software.

AhnLab, Inc.

After finishing military service as a medical officer in the South Korean navy, and leaving behind his career in the medical profession, Ahn went on to establish his venture company AhnLab, Inc in March 1995.[5] The same company later became the largest computer security company in South Korea,[7][8][9] and was included in annual lists of Korea's most admired companies by Korea Management Association Consulting between 2004 and 2008.[10][11][12][13][14] He resigned as CEO in 2005 and served as chairman of the board until 2012.

Ahn revealed that John McAfee once suggested it would acquire AhnLab for $10,000,000 but rejected the offer. He mentioned patriotic reasons about the decision saying that selling AhnLab might allow a foreign firm to dominate the Korean market.

Later life and education

Ahn became an outside director of POSCO in 2005, and from 2010 to 2011 was chairman of the company.

Ahn was awarded a master's degree in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997, and an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree from the Wharton School (San Francisco campus) in 2008. He then became a professor at KAIST in 2008, and later in the beginning of 2011 became the Dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University.[15]

Political career

Entry into politics (2011)

In early September 2011, speculation spread that Ahn would enter politics by competing in the 26 October Seoul mayoral by-election. Analysts stated that if positioned as an independent, Ahn would attract a degree of support from those disaffected by mainstream political parties in the wake of corruption allegations and continuing policy failures. At this time, Ahn's support base was compared to that of Roh Moo-hyun in 2002.[16] Ahn did not ultimately run in the Seoul contest, however.

He alluded to standing as a presidential candidate in his 2012 book Thoughts of Ahn Cheol-Soo.[17]

First Presidential campaign (2012)

On 19 September 2012, at 3 p.m. Korea Standard Time, Ahn held a press conference and announced his intention to run for the 2012 presidential election. This announcement came after months of speculation on whether or not Ahn was going to run for the presidency. The South Korean presidential election was to be held on 19 December 2012. In an address that lasted around 20 minutes, Ahn spent a considerable amount of time explaining how he came to the decision to run for President of the Republic of Korea, quoting the people he had met while exploring his candidacy, who had expressed their desire for a "new politics". Ahn at one point showed to be polling stronger than Moon Jae-in, with a few polls showing he could win against Park Geun-hye, the candidate who would go on to win the election. On 23 November 2012, at 8:20 p.m. KST, Ahn announced that he would drop out of the race,[18] endorsing Moon Jae-in, the Democratic United Party presidential candidate.

2013 by-election and early Assembly career (2013–2016)

On 11 March 2013, Ahn announced that he would run for a seat in the National Assembly of South Korea as an independent candidate in the by-election in the district of Seoul Nowon C. He won the election on 24 April, entering his first elected office.[19] In May 2013, he launched a new think tank named Policy Network Tomorrow.[20]

Having entered the Assembly, Ahn began to explore the creation of a new party, which was provisionally named the New Political Vision Party on the basis of public surveys.[21] On 26 March 2014, however, while the party was in the process of being set up, Ahn merged his faction with the liberal Democratic Party to form the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, becoming co-chairman of the new party alongside Kim Han-gil.[22][23] Ahn and Kim both resigned from their position three months later in July, following the new party's disappointing performance in by-elections that year, which had seen the liberals lose a seat in Jeolla to conservatives for the first time in 26 years.[24]

Ahn remained in the NPAD, but came into increasing conflict with Moon Jae-in, who had taken over sole leadership of the party after his resignation, and the "pro-Roh" faction that Moon represented. In December 2015, Ahn issued an ultimatum to Moon demanding that a convention be held at the beginning of 2016 to elect a new party leader. Moon rejected the demand.[25] Ahn then left the NPAD along with a range of other lawmakers opposed to Moon, including Kim Han-gil.[26] Announcing that he would form a new party, he subsequently joined forces with Chun Jung-bae, who had left the party earlier in the year,[27] to form the People's Party in January 2016.[28] Moon resigned as leader after Ahn's defection, describing his experience as "a series of difficult days without a single one of respite".[29]

People's Party (2016–present)

Ahn positioned the new People's Party as an anti-establishment centrist force, attracting support from both political wings.[30] He labeled the remaining NPAD "anachronistic progressives",[31] and accused contemporary Korean politicians of lacking policies beyond "short-term gimmicks".[32] In the lead-up to the April 13 parliamentary election, he came into conflict with his co-leader Chun and other members of the party after Kim Chong-in, the interim leader of the Democratic Party, the NPAD's successor, called for the two parties to form an electoral alliance. Kim Han-gil and Ahn's co-leader Chun both supported the plan, but Ahn rejected any prospect of an alliance with his former party.[33] The proposal was ultimately scotched, with Kim Han-gil withdrawing from the upcoming election in protest.[34]

In the event, the People's Party performed better than anticipated, coming second in party-list voting and winning 38 seats overall, including 23 of the 28 districts in the liberal stronghold of Jeolla.[35] The People's Party held the balance of power in the new Assembly, establishing a three-party system.[36] Ahn was credited for the victory, which was seen as giving him a position as kingmaker and support for contesting the presidential elections in the following year.[37][38] Following the election, Ahn rejected continued calls to regroup with the Minjoo Party, stating that "it would be inappropriate to speak of politically realigning at this point in time". He added that the People's Party would not be "a mere tie-breaking third party, but ... a new opinion leader in parliamentary affairs".[39]

Second presidential campaign and defeat (2017)

Ahn was widely known to be a likely contender for the 2017 South Korean presidential election. He was selected as the People's Party's nominee.[40] Despite rapid increase in opinion polling which briefly bypassed Moon Jae-In, Ahn floundered in TV debates that led to his loss finishing third in a field of five total candidates.[41]

Return of party chairmanship (2017)

The underperformance of his presidential campaign and a party scandal that found People's Party members fabricating evidence to smear Moon Jae-in's campaign led Ahn to declare in July 2017 to both apologize and take a step back from politics in "self-reflection." He returned a month later to run, and later win, the party chairmanship. [42]

Political positions

"New Politics"

Ahn has stated that he considers Franklin D. Roosevelt to be a role model,[37] and has referred to himself as the Bernie Sanders of Korea.[43] He supports an increased capital gains tax, higher public welfare spending, and a cautious approach to free trade agreements.[37]

Centrism

Ahn has also made appeals to conservatives, however, and has associated the People's Party with "reformative" currents of Korean conservatism.[44] In September 2012, Ahn visited the graves of Syngman Rhee, Park Chung-hee, and Kim Dae-jung. Park and Rhee are often praised by Korean conservatives, and Kim by liberals. Ahn stated at the time that it would be "hypocritical to paint half the people as enemies and at the same time call for 'unity'".[45] Ahn has been considered "more palatable for conservative voters" in part due to his business background.[40]

National security (THAAD)

Ahn was among the first who opposed the American deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, commonly referred to as THAAD, alongside Moon Jae-in. However, he changed his stance suggesting it was "irresponsible" for any future president to reverse an agreement already made between the United States and Korea.[40]

LGBT rights

Ahn has stated he opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage, although in a more detailed article on broadcasting network SBS' website, he said that same-sex marriage needs to be achieved through social discussion.

Philanthropy

In December 2011, Ahn has expressed his willingness to donate half of his shares in AhnLab for the education of children from low-income families. He owns 37.1 percent of AhnLab shares, and as of 9 December 2011, the value of the shares to be donated is about 250 billion won ($218 million).[46]

In September 2012, Ahn made a public apology as reports surfaced that his wife evaded taxes by under-pricing a 2001 apartment she bought worth ₩450 million to ₩250 million, thus reducing the acquisition and registration taxes by up to ₩10 million. However, a statement by the Korea Taxpayers' Association claimed that the "down contract" was in accordance with trade customs and thus not unlawful due to flaws in the local tax law between 1996 and 2005.[47]

Personal life

In 1988 he married Kim Mi-kyung, who is currently a professor at the Seoul National University College of Medicine. Ahn has a daughter with Kim.[48]

Bibliography

  • 2012. Thought of Ahn Cheol-Soo (안철수의 생각). 김영사. 276 pages. ISBN 9788934958710
  • 2009. Happy Virus by Ahn Cheol-soo (행복 바이러스 안철수: 안철수 박사가 쓴 안철수 이야기). 리젬. 136 pages. ISBN 9788992826259.[49]
  • 2009. My Mother Who Fostered My Ability (재능을 키워 준 나의 어머니). Jaeneung Academy. 143 pages. ISBN 9788976492456.
  • 2007. My Turning Point (내 인생의 결정적 순간: 그 순간이 없었으면 지금의 나는 없다). IMAGE Box. 247 pages. ISBN 9788991684348.
  • 2004. What We Need (CEO 안철수, 지금 우리에게 필요한 것은). KimYoung. 259 pages. ISBN 8934917202.
  • 2003. My Choice (나의 선택: 무엇이든지 하고 싶지만 쉽게 결단을 내리지 못하는 젊음에게). JeongEum. 231 pages. ISBN 8990164192.
  • 2001. Spiritual Showdown (CEO 안철수, 영혼이 있는 승부). KimYoung. 291 pages. ISBN 8934907525.
  • 2000. Ahn’s Internet Shortcut (안철수의 인터넷 지름길). BookMark. 396 pages. ISBN 8988351142.
  • 1997. Ahn’s Protection and Healing Computer Virus (안철수의 바이러스 예방과 치료). Information Age. 222 pages. ISBN 8985346865.
  • 1996. Analysing Computer Virus and Making Antivirus Software (바이러스 분석과 백신 제작). Information Age. 391 pages. ISBN 8985346180.
  • 1995. Eccentric Computer Doctor, Ahn Cheol-soo (별난 컴퓨터 의사 안철수). Vision. 336 pages. ISBN 8985456148.
  • 1995. Learning Computer Easily (컴퓨터, 참 쉽네요!). Youngjin. 396 pages. ISBN 8931406509.

References

  1. ^ "AhnLab". AhnLab. 8 July 2002. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Ahn Chul-soo: “Korea needs horizontal thinking to make a Nintendo game player.” at Korea Foundation.
  3. ^ "The vetting of Ahn Cheol-soo". The Hankyoreh. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  4. ^ http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0002032901
  5. ^ a b "Who is Ahn Cheol-soo". koreatimes. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  6. ^ "'무릎팍' 출연 안철수 교수에 시청자 호평…"보석같은 분"" (in Korean). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  7. ^ AhnLab Looks to Perform in International Stage at Korea Times.
  8. ^ AhnLab Considers Overseas M&A at Korea IT Times.
  9. ^ Gladstone, Rick; Lee, Su-hyun (19 September 2012). "New Voice in South Korean Politics, Ahn Cheol-soo, Enters Presidential Race". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Template:Ko icon
  11. ^ AhnLab, "The Korea's Most Admired company" Consecutive 5 years at Asia Economy (2008.02.20). Template:Ko icon
  12. ^ "AhnLab". Kr.ahnlab.com. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  13. ^ Samsung Electronics Most Admired Company in Korea: Survey at Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr
  14. ^ Book review "세상에서 가장 안전한 이름 안철수 연구소" at The Hankyoreh. Template:Ko icon
  15. ^ https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/09/113_94248.html
  16. ^ Park, Jeong-min (11 September 2011). 2002년 노풍(盧風)과 2011년 안풍(安風)의 공통점?. Heraldbiz.com (in Korean). Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  17. ^ Yeong-doo, Kang (19 July 2012). "Ahn Cheol-soo to announce his candidancy virtually". Yonhapnews. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  18. ^ http://news.naver.com/main/president2012/news/read.nhn?mid=hot&sid1=154&cid=909465&iid=39207146&oid=003&aid=0004843794&ptype=011
  19. ^ "전국 12개 재보선 개표 마무리…安·金·李 당선". News1. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  20. ^ "안철수 싱크탱크 출범, 신당 창당 궤도에 올라". Newdaily. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  21. ^ "Ahn's party to establish new name at gathering". Korea JoongAng Daily. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  22. ^ "Political shocker as DP, Ahn Cheol-soo merge". Korea JoongAng Daily. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Democratic Party, Ahn Cheol-soo agree to create new party". The Dong-A Ilbo. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  24. ^ "Co-chairmen quit amid election rubble". Korea JoongAng Daily. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  25. ^ "NPAD's Moon rejects Ahn demand". Korea JoongAng Daily. 9 December 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  26. ^ "Ahn Cheol-soo calls it quits with NPAD". The Korea Times. 13 December 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  27. ^ "Party feud erodes Moon's leadership". The Korea Herald. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  28. ^ "Ahn Cheol-Soo, Chun Jung-Bae To Create New Party". TBS eFM. 25 January 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ "Moon Jae-in steps down as leader of The Minjoo Party of Korea". The Hankyoreh. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  30. ^ "Ahn's popularity baffles parties". The Korea Times. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  31. ^ "Debate over first President Rhee reignites". The Korea Herald. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  32. ^ "The Bernie Sanders of Korea? An Interview With Ahn Cheol-soo". The Huffington Post. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  33. ^ "Ahn stumbling on internal feud". The Korea Times. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  34. ^ "Rep. Kim not to run in April elections". The Korea Times. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "In liberal stronghold, voters give main opposition party a lashing". The Hankyoreh. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  36. ^ "Minority People's Party steals show: Ahn's Party holds balance of power as three party system dawns". The Korea Herald. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  37. ^ a b c "Software Tycoon Turns Political Kingmaker in Korea Stalemate". Bloomberg. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  38. ^ "Attention to shift to 2017 presidential race". The Korea Times. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  39. ^ "Ahn gestures at moving onto presidential race". The Korea Herald. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  40. ^ a b c Sang-hun, Choe (14 April 2017). "South Korea Election Turns Into 2-Way Race as Dark Horse Surges". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  41. ^ '"Ahn And Hong Exchanges 2nd Place In Polling".
  42. ^ "Ahn Cheol-soo hails his comeback as People's Party head". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  43. ^ "The Bernie Sanders of Korea? An Interview With Ahn Cheol-soo". The World Post. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  44. ^ "Ahn backs Yoo to woo conservatives". The Korea Times. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  45. ^ "Ahn visits National Cemetery in first political act". The Hankyoreh. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  46. ^ Lee (이), Gwang-bin (광빈) (11 December 2011). 안철수 기부주식 2천500억원 넘어. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  47. ^ Bae, Hyun-jung (28 September 2012). "Ahn apologizes for wife's tax-dodging". Korea Herald. Seoul. {{cite news}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  48. ^ http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?year=2012&no=610838 Template:Ko icon
  49. ^ Book review "Happy Virus by Ahn Cheol-soo" at The Hankyoreh. Template:Ko icon
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ahn_Cheol-soo&oldid=825341894"