A consultative body involving the government, the ruling party and representatives of the medical community has suspended its activities after just 20 days in operation. 

Rep. Lee Man-hee of the ruling People Power Party announced the decision Sunday in a press briefing after a meeting of the consultative body. 

Lee said the medical community has consistently requested a change in the number of medical school seats for next year, but that it was difficult to grant the request with the admissions process already underway.

The lawmaker added that it’s uncertain when the meetings will resume, but said the government and the ruling party will continue to hold talks with the medical community.

The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and the Korea Association of Medical Colleges announced their decision to drop out of the consultative body, saying there is no point in further negotiations as long as the government and the ruling party are unwilling to resolve the situation.

The body was launched November 11 to resolve the prolonged medical crisis, despite the absence of the main opposition party, a trainee doctors’ group and the country’s largest group of doctors.