South Korea's Cabinet on Friday asked the National Assembly to review the controversial hearings bill that allows the parliament to open hearings more often, marking a rare veto by President Park Geun-hye.

The decision was made at the meeting presided over by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn. Park is currently in Africa on a 12-day trip to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and France.

The bill, passed last week, has caused a rift between the opposition parties that favor the change and the government, which voiced concerns that hearings will be used as a political tool and paralyze the executive branch. The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae has also maintained the bill will heavily burden state affairs.

The revision to the National Assembly Act was handed over to the government for final review and presidential endorsement.

"The revision to the National Assembly Act may be unconstitutional," Hwang said. "The opening of more hearings could be considered a move by lawmakers to dominate the administration.

This does not match with the constitutional idea of separation and balance of power."

The premier added the excessive request for hearings made by the parliament may emerge as a burden for the people, adding it could also bring about privacy infringement issues.

"The revision could virtually make all activities of the administration face hearings. It could burden state affairs, which would eventually inconvenience the people."

Cheong Wa Dae voiced its hope that the hearings bill would no longer cause any political dispute and that the incoming National Assembly would focus on revitalizing the economy and improving people's livelihoods rather than getting mired in partisan politics.

Presidential spokesman Jeong Yeon-guk told reporters that Park would endorse the Cabinet's decision through an electronic approval system.

Opposition parties immediately protested against the decision made by the Cabinet.

Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, said he is certain that the public will be angered by the government's "ambush" of exercising a veto during Park's trip.

The party whip said the opposition parties will bring back the bill in the new parliament that kicks off next week.

The ruling Saenuri Party, however, said the bill should automatically be scrapped, adding that it should not be discussed at the 20th National Assembly.

Ruling party lawmakers, in particular, argued that due to the extreme partisan nature of South Korean politics, the bill's passage will only result in endless wrangling.

The move by the Cabinet was anticipated because on Tuesday, South Korea's Cabinet approved a package of new bills, including the country's first comprehensive anti-terrorism bill that the government stresses is critical for safeguarding the country from acts of violence spreading across the globe. The earlier meeting, however, did not touch on the contentious bill.

According to South Korea's Constitution, a law handed to the government by the National Assembly must be declared by the president within 15 days. But if the president exercises a veto, the bill can be discussed again at the parliament. The veto, however, cannot outline how it should be revised.

In regards to the future of the bill, the country's legislation ministry claims that the rejected bill cannot be discussed at the 20th National Assembly. This view is also shared by the National Assembly Secretariat that said a vetoed bill will be automatically scrapped unless it is handled within the 19th National Assembly that ends its four-year term Sunday.

On the other hand, some legal experts said banning the 20th National Assembly from reconsidering the controversial bill would violate the nature of the veto system, which is aimed at creating a balance.

It marked the 66th time for a South Korean president to exercise a veto since the establishment of the Constitution. (Yonhap)