The government will hold a Cabinet meeting to discuss a controversial new bill that allows the National Assembly to open hearings more often, amid the rising possibility that President Park Geun-hye will exercise a veto.

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 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 ruling Saenuri Party has been claiming that the exercise of the veto by the president is a "legitimate process," adding the National Assembly should not "consider it as taboo." The opposition has warned that vetoing the bill would go against the spirit of political cooperation. Park has been moving to strengthen communications with opposition parties following the ruling party's defeat in the April 13 polls.

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 controversial bill. Accordingly, administrative watchers earlier expected Park would open the discussion after she returns from her overseas trip.

Park is currently in Africa on a 12-day trip to Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and France. (Yonhap)