Popular software mogul Ahn Cheol-soo declared his candidacy on Wednesday for South Korea’s presidential election, setting up a three-way race that offers a number of potentially game-changing permutations.
“The people have expressed their desire to see reform in politics,” Ahn told a highly-anticipated press conference at the Salvation Army building in the capital, Seoul.
“Now, I will run in the presidential election,” the 50-year-old said, ending a year of intense speculation.
Ahn’s entry into the race has the potential to split the liberal vote between himself and Moon Jae-in – the chosen candidate of the leftist opposition Democratic United Party (DUP).
Analysts say that scenario would effectively hand the election to the ruling conservative New Frontier Party candidate, Park Geun-hye, the daughter of South Korea’s former military ruler Park Chung-hee.
The opposition had been hoping Ahn would reach an arrangement with Moon, with one of them stepping aside to unify their support behind a sole candidate.
However, in his announcement address, Ahn appeared to rule out any immediate accommodation with the DUP.