South Korean parliamentarians have passed nearly-seventy new laws in just fifteen minutes after scuffling with opposition members.

The confrontation followed a boycott by the opposition Grand National Party, which has accused the government of spying on its members.

The session was delayed after opposition MPs blocked the main hall's entrance and prevented members of the ruling coalition from entering.

The ruling camp said it had to act unilaterally because some of the bills were vital to the country's economic reform programme.