SEOUL ¨C South Korean software tycoon Ahn Cheol-soo, who once led opinion polls in the presidential race, is finding his centrist approach and platform of championing markets drowned out by public demands for a clampdown on the country¡¯s scandal-hit elite.
The 55-year-old former medical doctor is trying to channel France¡¯s Emmanuel Macron after falling behind former party comrade Moon Jae-in ahead of the May 9 election. Moon has pulled ahead by vowing to crack down on graft, following influence-peddling allegations that forced former President Park Geun-hye out of office. A Gallup poll published Friday put Moon¡¯s support at 40 percent, compared with 24 percent for Ahn.
¡°Ahn presents himself as the third way in a political landscape divided between reformists and conservatives,¡± said Nam Chang-hee, a political science professor at South Korea¡¯s Inha University. He¡¯s ¡°driving home topics like pollution and technology, which don¡¯t really help him stand out¡± in the current climate.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.