The ruling Saenuri Party’s presidential candidate Rep. Park Geun-hye said Thursday she was open to a meeting with her opposition rivals to discuss ways to ensure a clean, policy-based campaign.

Independent candidate Ahn Cheol-soo on Wednesday proposed the three-way talks with Park and the main opposition Democratic United Party’s Moon Jae-in.

“It will be possible to meet whenever there is an opportunity,” Park told reporters during her visit to an outsourcing production company in Yongin as part of her tour to support diverse cultural industries.

“That type (of election where we compete in a clean policy-centered race) is something that I myself have also repeatedly emphasized, and so I know that it is something that cannot be achieved simply with a pledge. We all know that it is the right way and it is something that we must work hard to act on it,” Park said.

Ahn, riding on a young and untainted image, threw his hat into the ring Wednesday, pledging to achieve political reform as president and posing a challenge to Park and Moon.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)