Not representative of public opinion

Former anti-PC virus guru Ahn Cheol-soo, now dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University, denied speculation Thursday that he will form a political party or run in next year`s general elections. "There are several rumors about me forming a new party or running in Gangnam (a rich district in southern Seoul). But I can clearly say I have no such plan and there is no possibility at all," he told a news conference. "I have lots of things to do in school affairs and establishing a charity foundation," he added, "I can`t take my eyes off to look at other things."

It would be safe to say the persistent rumors about Ahn`s bid for a new party or running for parliament are not true. Yet his latest comments cannot be interpreted as an announcement that he will snub politics. He has been deeply involved in politics since the by-election for Seoul mayor. While some hope that he continues his contributions to social development in non-political areas, many others have high expectations for his political role. In Thursday`s news conference, he said nothing about if he will enter politics or run in next year`s presidential election.

According to The Dong-A Ilbo`s report Thursday on the results of an opinion poll, 82 percent of Koreans say domestic party politics and representation system fail to represent public opinion. Even three-fourths of people in their 50s, who tend to be conservative, said they are negative toward current politics, not to mention the absolute majority of those in their 20s to 40s who are generally critical of the political establishment. The survey results vividly illustrate widespread public distrust of existing parties and politics. Such sentiment explains Ahn`s high popularity as a potential presidential candidate and his would-be political party enjoys higher support than the ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic Party.

The ruling party enjoyed overwhelming public support in the last presidential and parliamentary elections. Public distrust in the party runs very deep now, however. The situation is no better for the Democratic Party, either. The ruling party is seeking to reform itself under a sense of crisis in the wake of the Seoul mayoral by-elections. Former ruling party chief Park Geun-hye, who is her party`s leading presidential hopeful, told Channel A, Dong-A`s newly launched cable TV channel, in an interview that the party should seek "a total change rather than just a cosmetic change." By contrast, the Democratic Party is seeking a quantitative reorganization through integration with smaller opposition parties.

The people`s distrust in the political establishment is a signal that they want a new political order. If the existing parties fail to win back the hearts of the 82 percent of Koreans disgusted with domestic politics, the public will have no choice but to pin hope on an alternative party. New political forces including Ahn and existing parties might compete for public support.