With less than seven weeks left until the final candidate registration, presidential candidates Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo stepped up their competition, respectively claiming to be better qualified for the single opposition candidacy and eventually for the presidency.

Rep. Moon, representing the main opposition Democratic United Party, stressed the importance of a party base whereas independent Ahn dismissed this as the DUP’s obsession with old-school politics.

“It is absurd now to argue that a candidate should be affiliated with a party,” Ahn said on Thursday during a lecture to university students in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province.

He reminded the audience of the corruption and incompetence of Korean parties, reiterating that a president free from the party system could better push for political and social reforms.

His words came in response to the party’s pressure for him to join them in order to run in the presidential race.

Ahn’s position disturbed the DUP, which aims to achieve candidacy unification under its flag, before engaging in the final battle against the ruling Saenuri Party and its candidate Rep. Park Geun-hye.

The DUP thus repeatedly underlined the necessity of party membership, suggesting that Ahn should acquire party membership and also hinting that Moon is the better choice between the two.

“The so-called Ahn Cheol-soo syndrome is the public’s expression that political parties need to change, not that they prefer an independent candidate,” said Woo Sang-ho, chief of Moon’s public communications team, on Thursday.

Rep. Shin Geh-ryoon also claimed that the idea of a non-party president may be possible in theory but too idealistic in reality.

“Ahn’s naive stance displays his lack of political experience,” said Rep. Lee Sang-min, another chief member of Moon’s camp.

The independent candidate, in his counterattack, accused the DUP of being trapped in obsolete political practices.

“The DUP’s logic lacks persuasion as the people are now fed up with the old school party politics,” said Kim Song-sik, co-chief of Ahn’s election camp.

“Instead of clinging onto the party identity, the DUP and Moon should spare more efforts to change themselves as to meet with the people’s expectations.”

The excessive emphasis on the party affiliation may also cut down on Moon’s reputation, Kim pointed out.

“Rep. Moon is a man of many virtues, yet it is pitiful that he should rely on obsolete logics of party politics,” Kim said.

“The DUP’s offensives indicate that Moon is facing limits in expanding his leverage in the race.”

The two sides also displayed different views over the idea of forming a joint political reform committee, suggested by Seoul National University professor Cho Kuk.

“In order to avoid unnecessary emotional battles, the two candidates should establish a joint committee to discuss their detailed policies,” said the left-inclined professor in a radio interview on Thursday morning.

The DUP welcomed the suggestion, but Ahn’s camp remained reserved on the issue, displaying its reluctance to be tied to the party.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)