The government has decided to tentatively put off its plan to suspend from Tuesday the medical licenses of trainee doctors who have yet to return to work as they protest the government’s decision to hike medical school admissions.

An official of the presidential office told Seoul-based Yonhap News on Monday that the government reached such a decision as license suspensions cannot be pursued whilst dialogue is held on finding a flexible way to handle the matter.  

The remarks come a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to consult with the ruling party to seek a flexible way to address the suspension of medical licenses of trainee doctors and to form a "constructive consultative body" to seek dialogue with doctors. 

During a regular meeting with the prime minister on Monday, Yoon stressed the need for the government to engage in closer communication with all levels of society, including the medical community. 

To this end, the government is speeding up working-level efforts to engage in dialogue with the medical community.