SEOUL, South Korea — The millionaire software mogul who was widely seen as a top contender in South Korea’s presidential election in December unexpectedly withdrew his candidacy Friday, throwing his support behind the candidate of the main opposition party who has championed more engagement with North Korea and “balanced diplomacy" with Washington and Beijing. South Korea’s diplomatic policy is currently weighted more toward the United States.
The surprising move by the software mogul, Ahn Cheol-soo, has turned the campaign for the Dec. 19 election into a close two-way race between Moon Jae-in, the candidate of the liberal opposition Democratic United Party, and Park Geun-hye, the nominee of the governing conservative Saenuri Party.
