Signs of division are emerging between possible presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo and Democratic United Party politicians disgruntled over his delayed decision on running for the December election.

Ahn’s spokesman Yoo Min-young issued a statement this week for the first time criticizing the DUP presidential hopefuls for trying to undermine his reputation. 

“The recent comments by some DUP members were intended to damage Ahn’s stature,” Yoo said in a statement on Tuesday. “(The DUP) should remember that trust is built on mutual respect.”

He was responding to a series of DPU heavyweights who complained about Ahn’s indecision and expressed skepticism toward the party’s proposed alliance with him.

Former party chief and presidential candidate Sohn Hak-kyu cautioned against the DUP’s reliance on Ahn for the December election.

“The DUP holds enough political leverage on its own and need not look for outside help,” Sohn said in a radio interview last week.

The party’s frontrunner Rep. Moon Jae-in also stressed the importance of party-based politics, shortly before announcing his candidacy on Sunday

“It is not advisable to seek alternatives outside the political institutions as democracy is fundamentally based on party politics,” Moon said.

Rep. Moon earlier suggested that he and Ahn form a joint government if either of them wins the presidential election.

Party chairman Rep. Lee Hae-chan also criticized Ahn on Monday for back-peddling and hiding from the public’s view.

It was reported that the professor will hold a book publication party for his autobiography in mid-July and announce his presidential plan, but such speculations were denied by Ahn’s aides.

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