The ruling party chief said Thursday that the party should actively mull a law that bans the wearing of masks during rallies to prevent protesters from turning violent while hidden behind anonymity.

"We should begin rooting out illegal rallies hidden behind facial masks just like the entire world is rooting out the Islamic State group hidden behind facial masks," Rep. Kim Moo-sung of the Saenuri Party said during a meeting of the party's senior members.

The comments came after a labor umbrella union held massive rallies in central Seoul in protest against the government's labor reforms over the weekend.

The Saenuri chairman said that the law is intended to give police officers a tool to prevent lawful protests from becoming violent riots and that it will help officers identify people who engage in illegal acts.

"There were controversies of possible human rights violation during the 18th National Assembly, but the law should be actively reviewed in light of this rally," Kim said. (Yonhap)