Rival parties faced mounting pressure to seek a breakthrough as the parliamentary audit entered the fifth day of the ruling Saenuri Party’s boycott, with the respective leaderships seen contacting each other in closed-door dialogue.

The annual audit on the government and major national issues had become a half-baked event upon the Saenuri Party’s protest against the National Assembly speaker over a separate issue concerning the presidential nomination of the controversy-ridden agriculture minister.

The audit that began running on Monday is set to end Oct. 15.

Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Lee Jung-hyun has been on a hunger strike since Monday, demanding Speaker Chung Sye-kyun step down for allegedly siding with the opposition and violating parliamentary laws to have the opposition-led bill pass the plenary session last weekend.

The bill recommending the president withdraw the nomination of Agriculture Minister Kim Jae-soo, who has been questioned on his alleged ethical lapses, was later vetoed by the president.

As public criticism mounted over the extended legislative gridlock, the floor leaderships of the ruling party and an opposition party were seen seeking a way out.

Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk, who refused to end the boycott and instead joined Chairman Lee’s hunger strike, suggested holding a meeting among the floor leaders of the three major parties. His counterparts Rep. Woo Sang-ho of The Minjoo Party of Korea and Rep. Park Jie-won of the People’s Party expressed willingness.

The People’s Party, which holds 38 votes in the 300-member Assembly, was seen attempting to take a mediating role in the prolonged confrontation.

“I apologize for having been baffled by the hunger strike of the leader of the Saenuri Party and criticizing the move. ... I urge the Saenuri Party and the Minjoo Party as well as the Assembly speaker to fulfill the role to prevent the parliament from reaching breaking point,” Rep. Park said.

Some observers said a compromise could come before Oct. 3, when Speaker Chung is set to leave for Australia to attend the parliamentary leaders’ conference of MIKTA, an association of Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia.

Chung has so far refused to apologize or step down, saying he upheld all necessary laws in leading Assembly proceedings.

Overnight, some Saenuri Party members gathered in front of Chung’s residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, asking for a meeting, doing so again Friday morning. They vowed to continue visiting his home until Chung agreed to resign.

The Minjoo Party also remained resolute for the time being, expressing objection to the resignation calls.

“It is hoped that we can announce a normalization of the audit after talking with the Saenuri Party floor leader.”

Meanwhile, polls showed the approval ratings dropped for all of President Park Geun-hye, the Saenuri Party and the Minjoo Party in light of the legislative conflict.

Gallup Korea’s survey of 1,004 adults nationwide this week showed that 30 percent approved of President Park, a 1 percentage point drop from the week before.

The Saenuri Party and the Minjoo Party saw 31 percent and 24 percent, respectively, marking a 2 percentage point and 1 percentage point drop from the previous week.

The People’s Party, for its part, saw a slight rise by 2 percentage points. (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)