The ruling Democratic Party called Friday for an immediate end to the main opposition party's boycott of the parliamentary audit of the government over what it calls the administration's attempt to control the public broadcaster MBC TV.

The Liberty Korea Party launched the boycott on Thursday after two pro-government figures were named to the nine-member board of the Foundation for Broadcast Culture, which has the right to name and fire the TV station's president as its largest shareholder.

The appointment gave the ruling party control of the board, with five members on the ruling party side against four on the opposition side, paving the way for the board to sack the current MBC president and name a new one friendly to the government.

In an emergency meeting of all member lawmakers, the LKP decided to stay away from the ongoing parliamentary audit of the government, which began earlier this month and is scheduled to last through next Tuesday, in protest.

The ruling party urged the opposition to immediately end the boycott.

"People's disappointment and anger are growing as (the opposition party) is boycotting the parliamentary audit at a time when the political community should combine strength," Democratic Party leader Choo Mi-ae said during a party meeting.

"The LKP's boycott and abandonment of its duties should be immediately halted and it should feel heavy responsibility as the main opposition party," she said.

Choo rejected the opposition allegations that the government is trying to control the broadcaster, saying the appointment of the two new board members is part of efforts to "normalize" the broadcaster.

The board's nine members are composed of six recommended by the ruling party and three by the opposition party. The opposition LKP had control of the board until two members on its side resigned recently, leaving control of the board up in the air.

The party claimed it be allowed to name the two new members. But the watchdog Korea Communications Commission rejected the demand, saying the party is no longer the ruling party. The commission says it is the current ruling Democratic Party that has the right to fill the two seats.

Meanwhile, Koh Young-ju, the FBC chairman, said during a parliamentary audit that he would step down next Thursday when the board is set to convene.

Koh, who took the FBC helm in August 2015 during the former conservative government, has faced pressure to resign after the change of government. (Yonhap)