Ahn Cheol-soo

Ahn was born on 26 February 1962, in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, while his father was on military service there; he subsequently moved with his family to Busan, where he grew up.{{cite news|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/555525.html|title=The vetting of Ahn Cheol-soo|newspaper=The Hankyoreh|date=12 October 2012|access-date=18 April 2016}} Ahn was not an academic child but had academic hobbies such as reading.{{Cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0002032901|title=안철수, "학창시절 활자 중독증 있었다"|website=entertain.naver.com}}

He received his doctor of medicine (MD), master of science (MS), and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D) degrees in physiology from Seoul National University between 1980 and 1991. He became the youngest chief of professors at Dankook University medical college at age 27, marking his first career milestone as a medical doctor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/09/113_94248.html|title=Who is Ahn Cheol-soo|date=5 September 2011|work=The Korea Times|access-date=29 March 2017|language=en}} Ahn met his wife while in university.{{Cite news|url=http://news.jkn.co.kr/article/news/20090618/3355840.htm|script-title=ko:'무릎팍도사' 출연 안철수, "부인과는 유명한 캠퍼스 커플, 프러포즈는…"|date=18 June 2009|work=재경일보|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}}

While a graduate student pursuing his MD, Ahn grew interested in computer software as a hobby, in particular, antivirus software. He soon began working on his own antivirus software after a virus began mass infecting computers in Korea. Ahn was soon victimized by the same virus and reverse engineered the virus to erase it from his disk drive. The program he wrote to get rid of the virus was eventually called "Vaccine"{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=200906180048251001|script-title=ko:안철수 "백신개발 심취, 가족에 軍입대도 말 못했다"|language=ko |work=Newsen |date=18 June 2009 }} which Ahn gave away for free.

After finishing military service as a medical officer in the South Korean navy, and leaving behind his career in the medical profession, Cheol-soo went on to establish his venture company AhnLab, Inc in March 1995 after being advised by a software company official to do so.{{Cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=029&aid=0001985929|title=안철수 KAIST 교수, 17일 무릎팍 도사 출연|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}} Ahn had previously attempted to distribute V3 via Samsung's brand though Samsung rejected Ahn's offer.{{Cite web|url=http://artsnews.mk.co.kr/news/29862|script-title=ko:안철수, 1000만 불 인수제의 거절한 이유!! {{!}} 아츠뉴스|website=artsnews|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-date=11 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511013005/http://artsnews.mk.co.kr/news/29862|url-status=dead}}

Ahn, not knowing how to run a business at first, struggled for the first several years.{{Cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=143&aid=0001993990|title='무릎팍도사' 안철수, 반쪽짜리 감동|website=entertain.naver.com}} Whilst managing the company, Ahn was also attempting to get a master's degree in engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1997.{{Cite web|url=http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/society/201103/h2011031821075622020.htm|script-title=ko:[명강의를 찾아서] 박경철·안철수 '미래… 리더십'|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712055207/http://news.hankooki.com/lpage/society/201103/h2011031821075622020.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 July 2012|language=ko}} Ahn eventually received a $10 million offer from US software giant, McAfee민도식, 나를 확바꾸는 실천 독서법 북포스 155페이지 '1997년 직원들에게 안철수연구소를 맡겨둔채 미국에서 유학하며 실리콘벨리에 머물던 중 현재 경쟁회사 맥아피에게 1천만달러 제안 받았지만 거절' and Ahn met with John McAfee personally. McAfee was struggling to expand into South Korea due to AhnLab, Inc and wanted to purchase the company in an attempt to monopolize the anti-virus software market in South Korea. Ahn rejected the offer because, despite AhnLab struggling, selling the company would lead to widespread redundancies{{Cite news|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=015&aid=0002085972|script-title=ko:'무릎팍도사' 출연 안철수, 온화한 카리스마로 시청자 압도|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.hkn24.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=27942|script-title=ko:무릎팍 안철수 "외국회사 1000만불 매각제의 단호히 거절" - 헬스코리아뉴스|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko|date=18 June 2009 }} and might allow a foreign firm to dominate the Korean market.

In 1999, the company began to run a surplus after the CIH virus became widespread in Korea and people needed to buy V3 to protect against it.{{Cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=101&oid=047&aid=0001963116|script-title=ko:안철수 "정치할 생각 있냐고요?"|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}} By the end of 1999, AhnLab, Inc became the second biggest computer security company in South Korea.{{Cite news|url=http://www.asiatoday.co.kr/view.php?key=258456|script-title=ko:'무릎팍도사' 출연 안철수, "한국의 빌게이츠(?)...너무 과분해"|work=종합일간지 : 신문/웹/모바일 등 멀티 채널로 국내외 실시간 뉴스와 수준 높은 정보를 제공|date=18 June 2009 |access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}} That same year, he won the Scientist of the Year Award presented by the Korea Science Journalists Association.{{cite web |url= https://www.koreasja.org/kr/business/prize.php |script-title=ko:과학언론상: 과학자상 |author= |website= Korea Science Journalists Association |access-date= 4 March 2020 |language= ko}}

The same company later became the largest computer security company in South Korea,[https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/10/258_40800.html AhnLab Looks to Perform in International Stage] at Korea Times.[http://www.koreaittimes.com/story/5502/ahnlab-considers-overseas-ma AhnLab Considers Overseas M&A] at Korea IT Times.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/world/asia/new-voice-in-south-korean-politics-enters-presidential-race.html|title=New Voice in South Korean Politics, Ahn Cheol-soo, Enters Presidential Race|last1=Gladstone|first1=Rick|date=19 September 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=29 March 2017|last2=Lee|first2=Su-hyun|issn=0362-4331}} and was included in annual lists of Korea's most admired companies by Korea Management Association Consulting between 2004 and 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.kmac.co.kr/certify/certify_01a_1.asp |title=Certify 01a |access-date=5 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024034/http://www.kmac.co.kr/certify/certify_01a_1.asp |archive-date=4 March 2016 |language=ko}}[http://www.asiae.co.kr/uhtml/read.php?idxno=2008022017371847343 AhnLab, "The Korea's Most Admired company" Consecutive 5 years] at Asia Economy (2008.02.20). {{in lang|ko}}{{Cite web|url=http://kr.ahnlab.com/company/eng/about/milestone.jsp|title=AhnLab|publisher=Kr.ahnlab.com|access-date=22 January 2010}}[http://news.mk.co.kr/outside/view.php?year=2008&no=92321 Samsung Electronics Most Admired Company in Korea: Survey] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723173328/http://news.mk.co.kr/outside/view.php?year=2008&no=92321 |date=23 July 2011 }} at Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr[http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/culture/book/297104.html Book review "세상에서 가장 안전한 이름 안철수 연구소"] at The Hankyoreh. {{in lang|ko}} He resigned as CEO in 2005 and served as chairman of the board until 2012.

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

Ahn was awarded 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.

Since 2006, Ahn had been offered places in the main political parties but was constantly denied any chance to run as an independent due to opposing factions.

In early September 2011, speculation spread that Ahn would enter politics by competing in the 26 October Seoul mayoral by-election. The Democratic Party and Grand National Party attempted to recruit Ahn for the mayoral by-election though they failed due to Ahn feeling like he, and many other voters, had become disenfranchised with the main two choices.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/culture/sisa2580/vod/index.html?kind=image&progCode=1000845100520100000&pagesize=5&pagenum=1&cornerFlag=1&ContentTypeID=1&ProgramGroupID=0|title=다시보기 {{!}} 시사매거진 2580|website=iMBC|language=ko|access-date=10 May 2018}} Ahn eventually made an announcement, denouncing the opposition and ruling party{{Cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20110905n06506|script-title=ko:안철수, "야권과 단일화 얼마든지 고려할 수 있다"|website=Nate News|language=ko-KR|access-date=10 May 2018}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}} and saying he was not sure on his candidacy, deciding to watch the polls before making a choice though he shared the sentiment that he felt like it'd take a lot of work to help Seoul, saying "ten years of work" would be needed to help the city.{{Cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20110905n07503|script-title=ko:안철수 "윤여준이 기획자? 그건 언론의 오보"|website=Nate News|language=ko-KR|access-date=10 May 2018}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}}

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.

Ahn's polling was higher than other potential candidates, at 35% with second place coming in at 17%.{{Cite web|url=http://news.nate.com/view/20110905n02597|script-title=ko:안철수, 서울시장 보선 여론조사서 압도적 선두|website=Nate News|language=ko-KR|access-date=10 May 2018}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}} His approval rating was subsequently polled afterwards, reaching over 50%.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mediatoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=97232|script-title=ko:조국 "안철수에 큰박수" 진중권 "과연 인물"|date=6 September 2011|work=Media Today|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}} Ahn eventually didn't run despite his positive poll ratings{{Cite news|url=http://v.media.daum.net/v/20110907084056110|script-title=ko:"아무 조건 없습니다" 안철수 깨끗한 양보|date=7 September 2011|work=Daum News|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}} instead endorsing Park Won-soon who went on to win the by-election.{{Cite news|url=http://v.media.daum.net/v/20110907024716274|script-title=ko:박원순, 안철수 지지율 흡수 여부가 변수|date=7 September 2011|work=Daum News|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}} Park's win has been attributed to Ahn's endorsement due to centrist voters moving to Park's side after the endorsement.{{Cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=032&aid=0002162450|script-title=ko:박원순 '안철수 지지' 업고 나경원과 오차내 접전|access-date=10 May 2018|language=ko}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}}

He alluded to standing as a presidential candidate in his 2012 book Thoughts of Ahn Cheol-Soo.{{cite news|last=Yeong-doo|first=Kang|title=Ahn Cheol-soo to announce his candidancy virtually|url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/politics/2012/07/19/0502000000AKR20120719102051001.HTML?template=5565|access-date=19 July 2012 |newspaper=Yonhap News Agency |date=19 July 2012}}

{{main|2012 South Korean presidential election}}

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,{{Cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/president2012/news/read.nhn?mid=hot&sid1=154&cid=909465&iid=39207146&oid=003&aid=0004843794&ptype=011|script-title=ko:네이버 뉴스}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}} endorsing Moon Jae-in, the Democratic United Party presidential candidate.

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 District C. He won the election on 24 April, entering his first elected office.{{cite news|script-title=ko:전국 12개 재보선 개표 마무리…安·金·李 당선|url=http://news1.kr/articles/1105911|access-date=24 April 2013|newspaper=News1|date=24 April 2013 }} In May 2013, he launched a new think tank named Policy Network Tomorrow.{{cite news|script-title=ko:안철수 싱크탱크 출범, 신당 창당 궤도에 올라|url=http://www.newdaily.co.kr/news/article.html?no=155844|access-date=25 May 2013|newspaper={{ill|Newdaily|ko|뉴데일리}}| date=22 May 2013 }}

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.{{cite news|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2985037|title=Ahn's party to establish new name at gathering|newspaper=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=17 February 2014|access-date=15 April 2016}} 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 (NPAD), becoming co-chairman of the new party alongside Kim Han-gil.{{cite news|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2985728|title=Political shocker as DP, Ahn Cheol-soo merge|newspaper=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=3 March 2014|access-date=15 April 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://english.donga.com/List/3/all/26/407931/1|title=Democratic Party, Ahn Cheol-soo agree to create new party|newspaper=The Dong-A Ilbo|date=3 March 2014|access-date=15 April 2016}} 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 Province to conservatives for the first time in 26 years.{{cite news|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2992867|title=Co-chairmen quit amid election rubble|newspaper=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=1 August 2014|access-date=15 April 2016}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3012565|title=NPAD's Moon rejects Ahn demand|newspaper=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=9 December 2015|access-date=15 April 2016}} Ahn then left the NPAD along with a range of other lawmakers opposed to Moon, including Kim Han-gil.{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/12/116_193056.html|title=Ahn Cheol-soo calls it quits with NPAD|newspaper=The Korea Times|date=13 December 2015|access-date=15 April 2016}} 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,{{cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150914001156|title=Party feud erodes Moon's leadership|newspaper=The Korea Herald|date=14 September 2015|access-date=12 April 2016}} to form the People Party in January 2016.{{cite news|url=http://tbsefm.seoul.kr/eNews/news.do?method=efmNewsInfo&idx_800=2143018&typ_800=N |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425101638/http://tbsefm.seoul.kr/eNews/news.do?method=efmNewsInfo&idx_800=2143018&typ_800=N |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 April 2019 |title=Ahn Cheol-Soo, Chun Jung-Bae To Create New Party |publisher=TBS eFM |date=25 January 2016 |access-date=12 April 2016}} Moon resigned as leader after Ahn's defection, describing his experience as "a series of difficult days without a single one of respite".{{cite news|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/728307.html|title=Moon Jae-in steps down as leader of The Minjoo Party of Korea|newspaper=The Hankyoreh|date=28 January 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}}

Ahn positioned the new People Party as an anti-establishment centrist force, attracting support from both political wings.{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_201981.html|title=Ahn's popularity baffles parties|newspaper=The Korea Times|date=5 April 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}} He labeled the remaining NPAD "anachronistic progressives",{{cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160118000971|title=Debate over first President Rhee reignites|newspaper=The Korea Herald|date=18 January 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}} and accused contemporary Korean politicians of lacking policies beyond "short-term gimmicks".{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emanuel-pastreich/the-bernie-sanders-of-kor_b_9211944.html|title=The Bernie Sanders of Korea? An Interview With Ahn Cheol-soo|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=11 February 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}} In the lead-up to the 13 April 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/03/116_199827.html|title=Ahn stumbling on internal feud|newspaper=The Korea Times|date=7 March 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}} The proposal was ultimately scotched, with Kim Han-gil withdrawing from the upcoming election in protest.{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/03/116_200609.html |title=Rep. Kim not to run in April elections |newspaper=The Korea Times |date=17 March 2016 |access-date=15 April 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424133619/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/03/116_200609.html |archive-date=24 April 2016 }}

In the event, the People 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.{{cite news|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/739721.html|title=In liberal stronghold, voters give main opposition party a lashing|newspaper=The Hankyoreh|date=14 April 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}} The People Party held the balance of power in the new Assembly, establishing a three-party system.{{cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160413000614|title=Minority People's Party steals show: Ahn's Party holds balance of power as three party system dawns|newspaper=The Korea Herald|date=14 April 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-14/software-tycoon-turns-political-kingmaker-in-korean-stalemate|title=Software Tycoon Turns Political Kingmaker in Korea Stalemate|publisher=Bloomberg|date=14 April 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/04/116_202545.html|title=Attention to shift to 2017 presidential race|newspaper=The Korea Times|date=13 April 2016|access-date=15 April 2016}} 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 Party would not be "a mere tie-breaking third party, but ... a new opinion leader in parliamentary affairs".{{cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160417000276|title=Ahn gestures at moving onto presidential race|newspaper=The Korea Herald|date=17 April 2016|access-date=18 April 2016}}

{{main|2017 South Korean presidential election}}

Ahn was widely known to be a likely contender for the 2017 South Korean presidential election. He was selected as the People Party's nominee,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/14/world/asia/south-korea-election-ahn-cheol-soo.html|title=South Korea Election Turns into 2-Way Race as Dark Horse Surges|last=Sang-hun|first=Choe|date=14 April 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 April 2017|issn=0362-4331}} defeating Sohn Hak-kyu and Park Joo-sun.{{Cite web|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=079&aid=0003072580|title=민평에 선 댔지만 결국 바른미래 택한 박주선|website=Naver News}}{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024|reason=See WP:KO/RS#NA; should specify underlying publication used by news aggregator.}} 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.'{{Cite news|url=http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0101_201705032206263984|title=Ahn And Hong Exchanges 2nd Place in Polling}}

The underperformance of his presidential campaign and a party scandal that found People 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.{{Cite web|url=http://mengnews.joins.com/view.aspx?aId=3037660|title=Ahn Cheol-soo hails his comeback as People's Party head|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=15 September 2017}}

As head of the People Party, Ahn was a strong advocate for merging with the center-right Bareun Party. The two leaders of the respective parties, Ahn and former presidential contender Yoo Seung-min, pushed forward with the merger which was completed in February 2018. The two parties merged to form the Bareunmirae Party in 2018.

Although Yoo retained a leadership position within the new party and Ahn stepped down from any leadership role, as of March 2018 took on the role of leading the party's talent recruiting committee - a formal position speculated to signal his preparation to run for the Seoul mayorship later in the year.{{Cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180316000791|title=Parties ready for Seoul mayoral election|date=16 March 2018|access-date=28 March 2018|language=en}}

{{empty section|date=August 2021}}

After losing the race to become Mayor of Seoul in June, Ahn began a hiatus in his political career starting in September 2018 when he moved to Germany to study. Afterwards, he moved to the United States. Ahn would later say that his time observing political systems in Europe would influence his views on domestic political reform.{{Cite web |title=[안철수] "정치 인생, 데드포인트? 이 악물고 참았다" [나는정치인이다] |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/057/0001880837?lfrom=twitter |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}

On 29 January 2020, Ahn founded the People Party (not to be confused with the earlier party of the same name founded by Ahn in 2016 or the People Power Party) as a splinter group from the Bareunmirae Party.{{cite news |last1=Soo-yeon |first1=Kim |title=Ex-presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo defects from minor opposition party |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200129003800315 |access-date=5 August 2021 |work=Yonhap News Agency |date=29 January 2020}} Ahn cited disagreement with party leader Sohn Hak-kyu as his reason for leaving. This announcement came weeks after the official defection of eight lawmakers, including Yoo Seong-min, to the New Conservative Party on 5 January 2020. The Bareunmirae Party dissolved shortly thereafter on 24 February 2020.

The People Party was officially registered on 23 February 2020. Ahn has continued to act as its leader since its founding.

On 1 March 2020, he was reported that he was carrying out COVID-19 medical service in Daegu with his wife Kim Mi-kyung. Ahn was able to treat patients because he had continued to maintain his doctor's medical license.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressian.com/pages/articles/280973|script-title=ko:안철수 측 "安, 대구에서 의사로 진료 자원봉사 중"|date=1 March 2020|website=Pressian|language=ko|access-date=12 April 2020}}

On 1 April 2020, he started the "Chunri-gil National Territory Master," a 14-day cross country marathon that covered a total of 400 kilometers.

{{main|2021 South Korean by-elections}}

In December 2020, it was reported that Ahn intended to run again in the upcoming 2021 by-election to become mayor of Seoul.{{cite web | title=Ex-presidential candidate to announce bid for Seoul mayoral by-election | website=Yonhap News Agency | date=19 December 2020 | url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20201219002900320 | access-date=3 February 2021}} Ahn officially registered as a candidate, but after he lost to Oh Se-hoon in an opinion poll, Ahn conceded and withdrew in an effort to unify the opposition camp.{{Cite web|date=23 March 2021|script-title=ko:단일화 패배 안철수…'野통합' 카드, 정치적 재기 명분 될까|url=https://www.hankyung.com/politics/article/2021032362787|access-date=17 April 2021|website=The Korea Economic Daily|language=ko}} Oh Se-hoon would go on to win the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election.

{{main|2022 South Korean presidential election}}

Before announcing his presidential bid in the 2022 presidential election, Ahn held negotiations with the Leader of the People Power Party Lee Jun-seok for a prospective merger between the People Party and the People Power Party.{{cite news |date= 22 June 2021|title= As ex-Prosecutor General Yoon 'falters,' new opposition presidential hopefuls rise|url= https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210621010600315?section=national/politics|access-date= 22 June 2021}} The People Power Party was at the time the main South Korean conservative party. These negotiations ended unsuccessfully in August 2021 due to disagreements on party-level issues such as Ahn's desire for the PPP to change its name to the People Party and method of picking a 2022 candidate.{{cite news |title=Yoon Seok-youl signs on with opposition PPP |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210816001951315?section=national/politics |access-date=21 August 2021 |newspaper= Yonhap News Agency|date=16 August 2021}}

On 1 November 2021, Ahn Cheol-soo announced his candidacy in the 2022 presidential election.{{cite news |last1=Ji-hye |first1=Shin |title=Ahn declares third bid for presidency, vows to create a technology-oriented Korea |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20211101000837 |access-date=1 November 2021 |work=The Korea Herald |date=1 November 2021 |language=en}} The People Party's Central Party Election Planning Group stated it would receive applications for other presidential candidates for two days following Ahn's announcement, but it was considered merely a formality and extremely likely Ahn would be the People Party's presidential candidate.

On 4 November, Ahn was chosen as the People Party nominee with 92% of the vote, and he accepted the nomination.{{cite news |last1=이동환 |script-title=ko:'단독출마' 안철수, 국민의당 대선후보 확정…찬성 92% |url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20211104160800001 |access-date=22 December 2021 |work=Yonhap News Agency |agency=Yonhap News Agency |date=4 November 2021 |language=ko}}{{cite news |script-title=ko:"바보 비아냥 감수하겠다" 안철수 국민의당 대선후보 수락 |url=https://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20211104500169 |access-date=22 December 2021 |work=서울신문 |date=4 November 2021 |language=ko}}

On 3 March 2022, six days before the presidential election, Ahn dropped out of the 2022 presidential race.{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Hyung-jin |title=S. Korean conservatives unify as 1 leaves presidential race |url=https://apnews.com/article/elections-south-korea-ahn-cheol-soo-ff73ccab6e79c4e2e66fd4287b0ba116 |access-date=29 March 2022 |work=Associated Press |date=3 March 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |date=3 March 2022 |title=Ahn backs Yoon for presidency and drops out of race |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/03/803_324845.html |access-date=29 March 2022 |work=Yonhap News Agency |language=en |agency=The Korea Times}} Ahn had been polling at around 10% support before dropping out of the race.{{cite news |title=Yoon leads Lee in hypothetical two-way race: polls |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220303000655 |access-date=29 March 2022 |work=Yonhap News Agency |agency=The Korea Herald |date=3 March 2022 |language=en}} Ahn endorsed PPP candidate Yoon Suk Yeol for president, who would narrowly win the election.

On 18 April, Ahn announced the merger of the People Party into the People Power Party in a joint press conference with PPP head Lee Jun-seok.{{cite news |title=(LEAD) Main opposition party, minor party announce merger |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220418004251315 |access-date=29 July 2022 |work=Yonhap News Agency |date=18 April 2022 |language=en}} The People Party was thereby dissolved.

Upon 18 April 2022 People Power Party-People Party merger, Ahn became a member of the People Power Party.

On 8 May 2022, Ahn declared his bid in the June 2022 South Korean by-elections, running for the Seongnam Bundang District A vacant seat in the National Assembly.{{Cite web |date=8 May 2022 |title=Ahn declares bid for parliamentary seat in Seongnam |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220508002000315?section=national/politics |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=Yonhap News Agency |language=en |last1=Haye-Ah |first1=Lee }} He won the seat on 1 June 2022 with 62.5% of the votes.

In 2023, Ahn declared his intention to run for the leadership of the People Power Party. Despite unifying with Yoon during the presidential election a year ago, the Presidential Office strongly criticized Ahn during the campaign period. He lost to Kim Gi-hyeon, placing in second place with 23.37% of the votes.

Ahn was notable as the only PPP legislator to stay in the building after every other Assembly member walked out before the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. This comes after Ahn and Yoon had sparred several times previously, partly owing to Ahn's moderate politics and Yoon's conservative outlook.{{cite web |last1=Ji-eun |first1=Seo |title=Parliament rejects bill on special counsel probe into first lady |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-07/national/politics/Parliament-rejects-bill-on-special-counsel-probe-into-first-lady/2195126 |website=msn |date=7 December 2024 |access-date=9 December 2024}} He called on Yoon to step down previously, and stated he would vote for impeachment unless Yoon resigned no matter his affiliation.{{cite web |title=Ahn Cheol-Soo "President, take responsibility and step down on your own..."Disgrace in political history". |url=https://www.ytn.co.kr/en/news/news_view.php?key=202412041600039479 |website=YTN | date=4 December 2024 |access-date=9 December 2024}} Only Ahn and {{Ill|Kim Ye-ji (politician)|lt=Kim Ye-ji|ko|김예지 (1980년)}} voted in favor of impeachment, with Kim returning later to the chamber to vote. {{Ill|Kim Sang-wook (politician)|lt=Kim Sang-wook|ko|김상욱 (1980년)}} returned to the chamber to vote, but said he voted against impeachment.{{Cite news |date=7 December 2024 |title=Ruling party MP says he returned to vote against impeachment |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c205634nw13t?post=asset%3A2df73124-0dd1-43e5-881d-ad9b4fb446ae#post |work=BBC News}} Ahn, who said he was criticized by the party for his vote, said that "The idea that a president responsible for upholding the constitution of the world's 10th largest economy would stage an unconstitutional coup is beyond imagination".{{cite news |title=South Korea slaps travel bans on more top officials |work=France 24 |date=9 December 2024 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241210-south-korea-slaps-travel-bans-on-more-top-officials |access-date=9 December 2024}}

{{Quote box

| quote = “If you don’t want to make Lee Jae-myung president, which you fear the most, you need to open your hearts.”

- Ahn Cheol-soo during the PPP primary{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/003/0013181013?lfrom=twitter|title=[대선주자 인터뷰]안철수 "중도층이 대선 결정…제3당 10년 한 제가 중도 제일 잘 알아"

|website=n.news.naver.com|publisher=Newsis

|date=14 April 2025|access-date=16 April 2025}}

| align = right

| width = 270px

}}Four days after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office by the Constitutional Court, Ahn declared his candidacy to run in the snap 2025 presidential election on 8 April in Gwanghwamun Square.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=Representative Ahn Cheol Soo of the People's Power (Seongnam Bundang Gap in Gyeonggi Province) will .. - MK |url=https://www.mk.co.kr/en/politics/11284434 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=매일경제 |language=en}} Ahn said that he chose the square, which features a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, as the location for his candidacy declaration because it serves as “the center and a symbol of national unity.”{{Cite web |title=안철수, 오늘 광화문 광장서 ‘대선 출마’ 선언 |url=https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=8221239 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=KBS 뉴스 |language=ko}} He described Lee Jae-myung, the leader and presumptive nominee of the opposition Democratic Party, as the 'weakest opponent' he could face. He expressed support for National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik's (also of the Democratic Party) proposal for constitutional amendment referendum that would strengthen the power of the legislature, but also questioned whether it would be logistically possible to hold such a referendum simultaneously with the presidential election; Ahn proposed holding the referendum the following year instead.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=Ahn Cheol-soo brands Lee Jae-myung weakest opponent, predicts turnaround in 60 days |url=https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy/2025/04/08/455JASZN35GANHIPDSBUNKIBMQ/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=CHOSUNBIZ |language=en}} He called for unity within the PPP, encouraging party members to move past Yoon's impeachment.{{Cite web |title=안철수 “팀 오브 라이벌스…민주 대비 안정감” |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/449/0000304860?lfrom=twitter |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}

Ahn said he offered broad moderate appeal, touting his personal character and diverse career experience during the primary campaign.{{Cite web |last=기자 |first=서민지 |date=2025-04-12 |title=[대선주자 인터뷰] 안철수 “더 이상 ‘양보’라는 말은 내게 해당되지 않아” |url=https://m.yeongnam.com/view.php?key=20250412024358570 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=영남일보 |language=ko}} On 12 March, Ahn announced his campaigns ten 'major pledges' which included pension reform, expanding housing welfare, securing energy sovereignty, and strengthening South Korea's alliance with the United States amidst the second Trump administration.{{Cite web |last=기자 |first=정도원 |title=[속보] 안철수, 10대 공약 전격 발표…"인수위 없이 첫날부터 일할 사람은 나" |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/119/0002944512?lfrom=twitter |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}

Ahn advised acting President Han Duck-soo not to run for President. He said his run was motivated by "a sense of crisis" he had felt and the emergence of cutting-edge technologies related to artificial intelligence. Ahn has claimed that PPP candidates who did not support Yoon's impeachment could not win the election, believing that he is the only candidate who could defeat a member of the opposition party. He also said his main campaign pledge, were he to secure the PPP's nomination, would be to amend the constitution to reduce the power of both the Presidency and the National Assembly; he has advocated for reducing the presidential term from five years to four or three.{{Cite web |last=류미나홍지인이은정 |title=[인터뷰] 안철수 "반탄후보 지지, 李 대통령 찍는것…찬탄파와 힘 모아야" |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/001/0015332366?lfrom=twitter |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}

Ahn's foreign policy proposals are roughly similar to that of South Korean conservatives: he calls for a tougher approach towards North Korea,{{Cite web|title=Ahn Cheol-Soo: Biography, People's Party, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ahn-Cheol-Soo|access-date=9 August 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}} and supports the THAAD system (although initially opposed to it).{{Citation|title=South Korea's rising political star - Ahn Cheol-soo| date=6 May 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOiZBJ7MEuw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/jOiZBJ7MEuw |archive-date=15 December 2021 |url-status=live|language=en-US|access-date=9 August 2020}}{{cbignore}} 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{{'"}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/552749.html|title=Ahn visits National Cemetery in first political act|newspaper=The Hankyoreh|date=21 September 2012|access-date=17 April 2016}} Ahn has been considered "more palatable for conservative voters" in part due to his business background. He has said that, if elected President, he would work with opposition lawmakers and form personal relationships, citing inspiration from how President Barack Obama negotiated with the opposition Republican Party in the United States.

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.

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.{{Cite web|title=Presidential candidates evasive on issue of LGBT rights|url=http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/791990.html|access-date=12 December 2020|website=The Hankyoreh}} Asked whether he was willing to attend the Queer Parade, he answered to the effect that "the right to refuse should also be respected."{{Cite web|script-title=ko:안철수 "퀴어축제 도심 밖에서" 발언 일파만파.. 팩트체크 '쇄도' - 고발뉴스닷컴|url=http://www.gobalnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=31815|access-date=17 April 2021|website=www.gobalnews.com}}

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).{{cite news |first = Gwang-bin (광빈) |last = Lee (이) |script-title=ko:안철수 기부주식 2천500억원 넘어 |date = 11 December 2011 |url = http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2011/12/10/0200000000AKR20111210045600001.HTML |work=Yonhap News Agency |access-date = 11 December 2011 |language = ko}}

In 1988 Ahn married Kim Mi-kyung, who is currently a professor at the Seoul National University College of Medicine. They live in Seongnam, and share daughter.http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?year=2012&no=610838 {{in lang|ko}}{{Cite web |title=부인 김미경 교수와 투표하는 안철수 의원 |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/421/0008167823?lfrom=twitter |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}

Ahn competes in marathons, and has participated in the Seoul International Marathon six times, as of 2025.{{Cite web |title=안철수, 동아마라톤 완주…6번째 풀코스 완주 |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/020/0003621477?lfrom=twitter |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=n.news.naver.com |language=ko}}

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.{{Cite news |last=Bae |first=Hyun-jung |date=28 September 2012 |title=Ahn apologizes for wife's tax-dodging |newspaper=The Korea Herald |location=Seoul}}

• 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}}.[http://h21.hani.co.kr/arti/culture/culture_general/26583.html Book review "Happy Virus by Ahn Cheol-soo"] at The Hankyoreh. {{in lang|ko}}
• 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}}.

• Moderate conservatism

{{reflist}}

• {{in lang|ko}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20121014175531/http://www.jinsimcamp.co.kr/ Ahn Cheol-soo Camp]

{{Democratic Party of Korea}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahn, Cheol-Soo}}

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Busan

Category:Busan High School alumni

Category:Seoul National University alumni

Category:Wharton School alumni

Category:Academic staff of KAIST

Category:Academic staff of Seoul National University

Category:South Korean military doctors

Category:Chief executives of computer security organizations

Category:Businesspeople in computing

Category:Economic liberalism

Category:20th-century South Korean businesspeople

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Category:South Korean Roman Catholics

Category:Members of the National Assembly (South Korea)

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Category:Candidates for President of South Korea

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Category:People Power Party (South Korea) politicians

Cheol-soo