Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo is increasingly sharpening his language as the election campaign heats up and his ambiguous attitude and preaching draw criticism.

He displayed prompt responses to political offensives from the leading parties, seeking to shed his image as a gutless scholar and businessman.

“What is the use of a government, if it may not protect its people?” he said on Monday. Ahn also spoke strongly during his visit to Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, where a major hydrofluoric acid leak occurred last month.

“It is possible,” Ahn told reporters on Tuesday when asked if it is possible to become president without party affiliation.

His response was a counteroffensive against Rep. Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the main opposition Democratic United Party.

Lee had argued in a radio interview earlier in the morning that a non-party president may not properly operate a state, taking aim at Ahn, who is the only independent candidate among the top three hopefuls.

The DUP’s candidate Rep. Moon Jae-in, too, repeatedly claimed that political reforms may only be achieved by parties and their affiliated candidates.

Ahn’s choice of words showed a clear contrast to his previous expressions, which were largely seen as abstract and idealistic.

“I do not know (when my decision will be made)” is what the former professor had been saying for months, despite the general speculation that he would eventually join the race.

Even after announcing his bid, Ahn frequently used relatively abstract terms such as sincerity, people’s thoughts, good intentions and future.

“Ahn’s policies and visions are still theoretical and abstract,” said Rep. Jin Sung-joon, spokesperson for Moon’s election camp.

Ahn also constantly speaks of parties’ political reforms, without offering any detailed suggestions or expressions, Jin added.

Despite the DUP’s criticisms, however, the independent candidate recently announced a set of seven major visions, nailing down details on how to change the current political structure.

His plans included obligating the president to obtain parliamentary consent in order to exercise the right of amnesty and reducing the number of government official posts that the president may appoint arbitrarily.

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