National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik criticized Acting President Han Duck-soo for urging rival parties to seek a deal over bills on special probes into the December 3 insurrection and first lady Kim Keon-hee, as well as Constitutional Court justice appointments.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Woo said it is regretful the acting president stands at the center of instability in state affairs.

The speaker said both the bills and the justice nominations were sent to the administration following parliamentary discussions and decisions, stressing it is unacceptable that the government is calling to revert to the previous stage.

Woo said that if Han believes there are problems with the two special probe bills, he can veto them, stressing that it is improper for the acting president to refer to public calls for the probes as a "conflict of views."

The speaker also said appointments of justices, whose nominations were recommended by parliament, are not subject to political negotiation, adding that filling three vacancies on the nine-member bench was strongly demanded by the Constitutional Court as well.