A controversial bill empowering parliament to open hearings more often is not likely to be dealt with at this week's Cabinet meeting due to a lack of time for review ahead of President Park Geun-hye's overseas trip, officials said Sunday.
Korea's presidential office on Friday called for a revision to the bill, passed on Thursday, on concerns that a possible abuse of the law and convocation of unnecessary hearings could hamper state affairs.
The National Assembly could send the legislation to the government for approval as early as Monday, but there is a scant possibility that it will be reviewed and approved at the Cabinet meeting slated for Tuesday, given Park's schedule for overseas trip, officials said.
"The upcoming Cabinet meeting is not likely to be presided over by Park due to time constraints ahead of her overseas business trips," said an official at Cheong Wa Dae. "More time will be needed for reviewing the legislation."
The presidential office said that the bill could paralyze government affairs by allowing parliament to open hearings more frequently after the new National Assembly, controlled by opposition parties, is set to set sail in late May.
But opposition parties said they do not intend to excessively hold hearings, saying that the bill is being pushed as part of measures to reform the National Assembly.
President Park plans to embark on her trip to three African countries -- Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya -- and France starting Wednesday for 12 days.
Experts said that a final decision is likely to be made at the Cabinet meeting slated for June 7 after she returns home.
The presidential office has shown a cautious stance about whether or not Park will veto the bill, saying that its position is to call for a revision of the legislation. (Yonhap)
