The floor leaders of the rival political parties plan to meet Thursday in their latest attempt to work out differences over a bill meant to uncover the truth behind April's ferry disaster, officials said.
Lee One-koo, floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, was to meet with his opposition counterpart, Park Young-sun, at the National Assembly, officials said, though it remains clear whether they can make progress.
The meeting comes weeks after the rival parties' two successive deals on the bill were rejected by the families of the victims of the ferry accident that left more than 300 people dead or missing.
A key bone of contention in the bill is whether a proposed committee for an independent probe into the disaster should be given the right to investigate and indict those responsible for the tragedy, a demand of the victims' families.
The opposition party has vowed to boycott the passage of all other bills until after the ferry bill is endorsed by the parliament.
The ruling party has rejected the call on the grounds that it could undermine the judicial system.
Lee pressed the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy to make public its official stance on the bill.
Meanwhile, Park called on the presidential office and the ruling party to make concessions to ensure the National Assembly passes the bill.
Also Thursday, Prime Minister Chung Hong-won urged rival political parties to quickly break their political standoff and pass a set of bills aimed at reviving the country's sluggish economy.
National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa also asked the ruling and opposition parties to set a timetable for parliamentary proceedings, which have been disrupted by the political standoff over the bill.
Chung made the request during two separate telephone calls to the floor leaders of the rival parties, according to his office. (Yonhap)
