Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo urged the main opposition party to show its resolve on implementing sweeping reforms and called for talks to decide who will become the standard bearer for the liberal camp in the December election.

In a press conference held at his campaign headquarters in Seoul, the entrepreneur-turned-politician claimed the Democratic United Party (DUP) and its presidential contender Moon Jea-in should break with outdated ways of thinking, and push forward measures that can revamp itself totally. He said only by taking such steps can the liberals select a unified candidate who can win the full support from the people.

The 50-year-old hopeful had suspended single candidacy talks on Wednesday claiming the opposition party tried to unjustly manipulate the selection process by spreading unfounded rumors, and by disregarding various other agreements of "fair play" laid down in the past.

He expressed deep disappointment over recent developments that raised questions about the sincerity of the DUP to respect rules, and did not respond to apologies made by Moon on the grievances raised.

"There is a pressing need to discontinue actions that disappoint the people," he stressed, adding that the DUP must swiftly push forward reforms that have already been called by party members and the public at large.

He did not elaborate on what changes must be made, but there have been steady calls within the opposition party for the wholesale resignation of its leadership and other political sacrifices.

The founder of AhnLab, the country's largest anti-virus software company, who has become a national figure mainly due to the public disillusionment with politics in general, stressed that only by changing can the liberal side win the backing of the people.

On the stalled talks, Ahn said his rival needed to see what problems exist that have impeded progress and must take firm remedial actions. He pointed out that there was not enough time before the Nov. 26 deadline for merger talks.

"Moon needs to announce realistic changes that can prevent a re-occurrence of problems discovered," he said, pointing out that there must not be a repeat of the April parliamentary election next month.

In that election, the opposition camp was expected to win, but the ruling Saenuri Party took more than half the seats in the 300-seat National Assembly.

Ahn argued that the people desperately want a change in government and the start of a new form of politics, and the responsibility for making this happen rests on the shoulders of Moon and himself.

In response, Rep. Woo Won-shik, Moon's spokesman, said the DUP candidate welcomed calls for a meeting with Ahn to settle outstanding issues.

"Moon's stance on political reforms is resolute, and he has outlined various proposals that can be followed in the future," the official said.

"If the two men meet and open their hearts, there is every chance that the current impasse can be settled," he said.

Despite such official positions, party insiders have expressed reservations about Ahn's true motives in calling off the merger negotiations that took place just as some polls showed Moon overtaking the independent candidate.

Others said that Ahn's attacks directed at the DUP's use of its members to rally support for Moon was unfair and did not reflect reality.

"To say that party members were resorting to old-fashioned practices because they wanted their candidate to win, translates into a call to halt party politics altogether and cannot be accepted," the source said.

Meanwhile, the Saenuri Party lashed out at the stalled talks and the infighting between the rival camps as evidence that the single candidacy negotiations were nothing more than a political show to blind the people from the fact that neither Moon and Ahn are really qualified to lead the country.

Moon is a first term lawmaker, who only held senior aide positions under the late president Roh Moo-hyun, while Ahn has no experience in public office.

"What the people really want is for the charade to end as soon as possible so the candidate who will run, can be checked thoroughly for his leadership potential," said party spokesman Lee Cheol-woo.

Party officials, moreover, said that Moon needs to accept calls to examine classified files that can shed light into allegations that President Roh disavowed the de facto sea border between the two Koreas. They also said that an investigation is needed to see if Moon exerted undue influence on financial regulators to halt an inspection on a savings bank that went bankrupt.

On Ahn, Saenuri said the independent candidate was unfit to be president in the first place and that he needs to answer various allegations of inappropriate actions as well as show the people if he really has a plan to run the country other than hollow and unrealistic rhetoric.

Political watchers said that while Moon and Ahn's talks have hit a snag, they have no choice other than to work out their differences.

Nationwide surveys showed that in a three-way race, Park will easily win, with the liberal chances going up if only one candidate competes for the country's top post. (Yonhap News)