South Korea cabinet vetoes new bill on free hearings in parliament

By Park Sae-jin Posted : May 27, 2016, 11:07 Updated : May 27, 2016, 11:07

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn [Aju News DB]


South Korea's cabinet Friday vetoed a controversial bill proposed by opposition legislators to open hearings more often and at any time at the request of parliament, risking a political standoff ahead of a presidential election next year.

The bill was passed last week through the opposition-controlled National Assembly despite concerns among ruling party legislators and government officials that hearings would be used as a political tool.

The cabinet's decision needs approval from Park who is abroad on a 12-day trip to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and France. Park has indicated she may exercise a veto.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said the bill could be misused in parliament to disrupt state affairs, accusing opposition groups of trying to create "a new tool to control the administration".

Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, warned that the veto ran against Park's earlier pledge to carry out state affairs through more frequent dialogue and consultations with opposition parties which have accused the president of turning a deaf ear to calls for change in her non-compromising attitude.

Opposition groups have urged Park to make political goodwill gestures since her ruling Saenuri Party suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections in April. The election saw Saenuri falling to the second largest group in parliament. It was seen as a test of gauging public sentiment ahead of the presidential race in December 2017.

Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
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