A group of opposition lawmakers, led by Rep. Woo Won-shik of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, visited Hwang’s office at the government complex at around 1:30 p.m. only to find it empty. The acting president was at that time at a detached annex building, attending a public forum on deregulation.

“Since yesterday morning, we have been in touch with the prime minister’s office to get a schedule and waited for a final answer until 10 a.m. today,” said Rep. Woo.

“A rescheduling would have been possible, so this only indicates that (Hwang) did not wish to meet with the lawmakers.”

Government Coordination Office chief Lee Suk-joon, who met with the lawmakers on behalf of the absent prime minister, denied the assertion.

“(Hwang) did not dismiss the request,” he said.

“He is currently pondering (the extension of the investigation) and will soon come up with an official stance.”

The four opposition parties, including the conservative Bareun Party, earlier pledged to lay a revision bill of the Independent Counsel Law at Thursday’s plenary session, if Hwang fails to make the decision by Wednesday.

Without an extension granted by the acting president, the ongoing investigation is scheduled to end Tuesday.

But Hwang, closely affiliated with the Park administration and her home party, has so far remained passive about prolonging the investigation, which would clearly act against the suspended president.

“I will make the decision based on the related laws,” he had said repeatedly.

Ruling out the possibility that Hwang may consent to the extension, the only other option for an extension is for the National Assembly to revise the Independent Counsel Law, extending the investigation period from the current 70 days.

The National Assembly Act states that the speaker may call for a vote on a bill in cases of natural disasters, national emergencies, or if the floor leaders of negotiating bodies consent to the vote.

But the ruling party has vowed to oppose the bill, making its consent unlikely. Parliamentary Speaker Chung Sye-kyun has ruled the possibility of calling for a vote without the Liberty Korea Party’s approval, saying the current circumstances cannot be seen as a national emergency.

“Unless the parties’ floor leaders reach an agreement, there are no legal grounds for me to call the vote,” he said.

“I do agree that an extension is necessary, but it is not for me to make the decision.”

Calls to prolong the investigation into President Park and her close aides escalated Wednesday after the court dismissed the arrest warrant requested for Woo Byung-woo, a former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs.

Woo is deemed a key factor in the entire corruption scandal involving the president’s confidante Choi Soon-sil, having allegedly exerted influence on conglomerates and investigators on Choi’s behalf and to make illegitimate profits.

“The very reason that the independent counsel team came to need more time is because President Park has been stalling for time all the while, not cooperating with the investigation,” the Democratic Party said through a written statement.

“The court should be ashamed of dismissing an arrest warrant for Woo, who stands at the heart of the entire scandal.”

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)