Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo once again dismissed the main opposition Democratic United Party’s repeated suggestions that he should join the party and come to candidacy unification talks.

“The people demanded that Ahn display detailed policies and visions, whereas they asked the DUP to look back on its faults and renew itself,” said Kim Song-sik, co-chair of Ahn’s election camp in a radio interview on Monday.

“It is now time (for both sides) to respectively focus on communicating with the people.”

The DUP’s candidate Rep. Moon Jae-in on Saturday said that Ahn should first acquire the party’s membership and then enter the two-way race for a single candidacy.

He also proposed on Sunday that they form a joint committee on political reform.

“Ahn asked for the DUP’s renewal but this goal may be better achieved if he would join the party and work together,” Moon said.

Ahn’s aides, however, denied the logic. Some also speculated that Rep. Moon deliberately adopted an aggressive and provocative strategy in an aim to break through his poll stagnancy.

“Candidate Ahn demanded that the DUP reform itself, but this was not a precondition of his joining the party,” Kim said.

“The DUP is clinging onto the (candidacy merger) talks without even making the necessary efforts for renewal.”

Kim also expressed reluctance over the term “candidacy unification,” claiming that it should be substituted with weaker terms such as “solidarity” or “alliance.”

“Ahn is still focusing on developing and presenting his key policies and visions,” said an official of his election camp.

“The DUP and Moon should know only too well that their merger talk is premature but are yet trying to take the initiative in the left-wing’s internal race by undermining Ahn’s political leverage as an independent contestant.”

Cho Kuk, law professor at Seoul National Univeristy, also expressed concerns over the DUP’s hasty actions.

“It would be difficult for Ahn to decide to join the DUP at this point in time,” Cho said on this Twitter page on Monday.

“I do nevertheless hope that (Ahn) will make his due efforts for mutual communication (with Moon).”

The left-leaning professor earlier suggested a three-stage plan to achieve an alliance between Moon and Ahn.

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