Ruling party leader apologizes over botched bill

The ruling party leader publicly apologized Monday over a controversial parliamentary bill that was vetoed by and drew the ire of President Park Geun-hye.

"I apologize to the people for this situation," Saenuri Party chairman Kim Moo-sung told reporters after a meeting among top party members.

The apology came after Park lambasted Saenuri for endorsing a bill that would give greater administrative power to the National Assembly.

Park vetoed the bill last week, sending it back to the parliament for review and calling it unconstitutional.

Her veto garnered wide attention as she gave an unusually scathing remark against Saenuri Party floor leader Yoo Seong-min for what she called "politics of betrayal." She blamed him for giving into the opposition pressure to approve the bill.

Some pro-Park ruling party lawmakers also called for Yoo's resignation.

But Kim hinted that Yoo will not be stepping down for now.

"Yoo said he has listened carefully to our opinions and will think them through," Kim said. "As a party leader, I have to prevent our party from disintegrating."

Yoo publicly apologized to Park last Friday.

"I feel sorry for having been unable to support the president's commitment to government administration," he said.

(Yonhap)