South Korea’s main opposition party intensified accusations of government corruption on Wednesday, threatening a drawn-out conflict that could hamper efforts to pass a series of key bills.

New Politics Alliance for Democracy lawmakers have accused former President Lee Myung-bak of graft in his four rivers restoration project and “resource diplomacy” policy, and Chung Yoon-hoi, a former secretary to President Park Geun-hye, of illegally interfering in presidential decisions.

The governing Saenuri Party has avoided lengthy discussion of the charges. Prosecutors are conducting independent investigations into Chung.

The scandals could drag parties into a prolonged war of words that holds back efforts to pass controversial legislation before the year’s end, according to parliamentary sources.

Earlier Wednesday, parliamentary committees began reviews of a series of divisive draft bills.

The foreign affairs committee discussed two versions of a North Korea human rights bill that the NPAD and the governing party have disagreed on. Parties are divided over whether to fund North Korean human rights activists in the South with public money, among other issues.

The Legislation and Judiciary committee examined an anti-cronyism bill aiming to clamp down on cozy government-private industry relations.

The bill proposed strengthening limits on retired bureaucrats seeking jobs in the private sector. But the bill stalled when multiple lawmakers raised fears the new limits could violate the freedom of occupational choice.

The National Policy Committee reviewed bills concerning the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the bureau managing benefits to former civil servants recognized for past meritorious actions.

Close to 9,000 draft bills await review.

Opposition officials, however, said their demands to begin probes into Lee and Chung would not be easily pushed aside.

“(The parties) must reach some kind of agreement over the allegations (regarding Lee), before the New Year,” NPAD floor leader Rep. Woo Yoon-keun said.

NPAD interim leader Rep. Moon Hee-sang also suggested setting up a special prosecution into Chung.

Rumors of behind-the-scenes talks between senior members of the parties have been surfacing. According to the rumors, the Saenuri Party will accede to parliamentary investigations into the Lee administration, if the opposition agrees to vote for reforms of the public officials’ pensions, another contentious policy proposal that is supported by President Park.

But analysts said the opposition holds the upper hand in the fight, as the Saenuri Party will be busy playing defense regarding the scandals.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)