Ahn Cheol-Soo
Encyclopedia
Ahn Cheol-Soo is a professor
and businessperson
in South Korea
. He founded AhnLab Inc.
, an antivirus software
company in 1995. Now he is the dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University
. He is also serving as chairman and Chief Learning Officer
of AhnLab Inc. and chairman of the board of Noritown Studio, originally an internal corporate venture of AhnLab Inc., now operating as a separate entity.
, South Korea
. He earned his MD
, MS
and PhD
in physiology
from Seoul National University
(1980 - 1991). He individually researched computer antivirus software
programs while at Seoul National University Hospital and Dankook University Hospital, and founded venture
after resigning from his medical duties. Later AhnLab Inc
became the largest computer security
company in South Korea, and has been included in recent annual lists of the Korea’s most admired companies by Korea Management Association Consultants (KMCA).
Ahn holds a MSE
from University of Pennsylvania
(1997) and an MBA
from Wharton
(2008). He resigned as CEO in 2005, and since then he has been serving as chairman of the board. Ahn became an outside director of POSCO
in 2005, and in 2010, he was appointed chairman of the company.
In 1988 he married Kim Mi-kyung. In 2002, his wife resigned from her position of associate professor
at Sungkyunkwan University
Medical School and went to the U.S. to study at the University of Washington School of Law
similar to the way Ahn had gone. Upon graduation, she was admitted to the bar
of California
and New York
. Since 2008, she has been teaching patent
law at KAIST
. Ahn has a daughter with Kim.
-led populism in 2002.
Na Kyung-won
was active in a smear campaign against Ahn and his support of Park Won-soon
. Park, however, was elected mayor of Seoul
.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and businessperson
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. He founded AhnLab Inc.
AhnLab Inc
AhnLab, Inc. , founded in 1995, is a security software provider in South Korea. AhnLab sells computer software such as antivirus software, online security, network security appliances such as firewalls, IPS, UTM, and security software for online game and Mobile Web.- History :Ahn Cheol-Soo found...
, an antivirus software
Antivirus software
Antivirus or anti-virus software is used to prevent, detect, and remove malware, including but not limited to computer viruses, computer worm, trojan horses, spyware and adware...
company in 1995. Now he is the dean of the Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology at Seoul National University
Seoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
. He is also serving as chairman and Chief Learning Officer
Chief learning officer
A Chief Learning Officer is the highest-ranking corporate officer concerning talent or learning management of a corporation or agency...
of AhnLab Inc. and chairman of the board of Noritown Studio, originally an internal corporate venture of AhnLab Inc., now operating as a separate entity.
Biography
Ahn was born on February 26, 1962 in BusanBusan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. He earned his MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, MS
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
and PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
from Seoul National University
Seoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
(1980 - 1991). He individually researched computer antivirus software
Antivirus software
Antivirus or anti-virus software is used to prevent, detect, and remove malware, including but not limited to computer viruses, computer worm, trojan horses, spyware and adware...
programs while at Seoul National University Hospital and Dankook University Hospital, and founded venture
Venture Development
Venture development describes economic development activity that is focused on using best-practices and activities of experienced business mentoring and pre-angel and venture capital investing in order to help create venture and angel-capital-ready firms which have the promise to create significant...
after resigning from his medical duties. Later AhnLab Inc
AhnLab Inc
AhnLab, Inc. , founded in 1995, is a security software provider in South Korea. AhnLab sells computer software such as antivirus software, online security, network security appliances such as firewalls, IPS, UTM, and security software for online game and Mobile Web.- History :Ahn Cheol-Soo found...
became the largest computer security
Computer security
Computer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
company in South Korea, and has been included in recent annual lists of the Korea’s most admired companies by Korea Management Association Consultants (KMCA).
Ahn holds a MSE
Master of Science in Engineering
A Master of Science in Engineering or Master of Science is an academic degree to be differentiated from a Master of Engineering....
from University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
(1997) and an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Wharton
Wharton
-Academic institutions:*Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania*Wharton Center for Performing Arts, at Michigan State University-Places:*Wharton, Cheshire, England*Wharton, Cumbria, England*Wharton, New Jersey*Wharton, Ohio*Wharton, Texas...
(2008). He resigned as CEO in 2005, and since then he has been serving as chairman of the board. Ahn became an outside director of POSCO
POSCO
POSCO is a multinational steel-making company headquartered in Pohang, South Korea. It is the world's third-largest steelmaker by market value and the most profitable Asia-based steelmaker....
in 2005, and in 2010, he was appointed chairman of the company.
In 1988 he married Kim Mi-kyung. In 2002, his wife resigned from her position of associate professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Sungkyunkwan University
Sungkyunkwan University
Sungkyunkwan University is a private university in Seoul and Suwon, South Korea. The university has two campuses: the Humanities and Social Sciences campus in Myeongnyun Dong, Jongno-gu in central Seoul, and the Natural Sciences Campus in Cheoncheon Dong, Jangan Gu, Suwon...
Medical School and went to the U.S. to study at the University of Washington School of Law
University of Washington School of Law
The University of Washington School of Law is the law school of the University of Washington, located on the northwest corner of the main campus in Seattle, Washington.The most recent 2012 U.S...
similar to the way Ahn had gone. Upon graduation, she was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Since 2008, she has been teaching patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
law at KAIST
KAIST
KAIST , is located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea. KAIST was established by the Korean government in 1971 as the nation's first research oriented science and engineering institution. The QS-The Times World University Rankings in the year of 2009 placed KAIST 69th overall and 21st in...
. Ahn has a daughter with Kim.
Political Career
In early September 2011, speculation spread that Ahn would enter politics by competing in the October 26 Seoul mayoral by-election. Analysts say 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. As a medical doctor, professor, self-taught computer entrepreneur, and corporate leader, Ahn is representative of everything mainstream Korea dreams of becoming. Ahn's political motivation is very similar to Roh Moo-hyunRoh Moo-hyun
Roh Moo-hyun GOM GCB was the 16th President of South Korea .Roh's pre-presidential political career was focused on human rights advocacy for student activists in South Korea. His electoral career later expanded to a focus on overcoming regionalism in South Korean politics, culminating in his...
-led populism in 2002.
Na Kyung-won
Na Kyung-won
Na Kyung-won is a South Korean politician and lawyer. She is a member of the conservative Grand National Party. She is one of two candidates of the October 2011 by-election after Oh Se-hoon resigned his position as the Mayor of Seoul...
was active in a smear campaign against Ahn and his support of Park Won-soon
Park Won-soon
Park Won-soon is a Korean lawyer. He was elected as Mayor of Seoul, South Korea on October 26, 2011. Elected as an independent candidate with the support of the Democratic Party and Democratic Labor Party, Park's victory is seen as a blow in particular to the Grand National Party and the...
. Park, however, was elected mayor of Seoul
Mayor of Seoul
The mayor of Seoul is the head of government for Seoul, the capital and largest city of South Korea. The position is traditionally considered one of the most powerful in the country. Many Seoul mayors have gone on to hold ministerial office...
.