President Park Geun-hye will meet with the floor leaders of rival political parties this week to urge them to pass pending bills and settle unresolved issues, officials said Sunday.

Park’s office agreed with the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy to hold the meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae this week, with the exact date likely to be Wednesday or Thursday, the officials said.

Saenuri floor leader Lee One-koo and his NPAD counterpart Park Young-sun will announce the exact date during their weekly meeting on Monday, they added.

The meeting would be the first of its kind since Park took office in February last year. Also in attendance will be the two parties’ chief policymakers.

Park is expected to call for bipartisan cooperation in the passage of urgent bills, such as a government reorganization proposal drawn up following a deadly ferry sinking in April as well as a special bill aimed at determining the truth behind the tragedy and providing support to the victims’ families.

Among other things, the government reorganization bill contains Park’s proposal to abolish the Coast Guard, which has been accused of bungling its initial response to the ferry sinking, resulting in the deaths of more than 300 people.

Park also plans to push the passage of bills aimed at increasing social welfare and removing excessive business regulations, the officials said.

Park Young-sun, the NPAD floor leader, told reporters she plans to deliver her party’s stance on the president’s recent Cabinet shake-up, which has led to controversy over some of the nominees’

alleged ethical and other lapses.

In South Korea, all Cabinet nominees must undergo confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, although only the prime minister is subject to parliamentary approval. (Yonhap)