Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun said Tuesday that South Korea has requested the United States to hold off export of beef cuts from cattle above 30 months of age.
In a hurriedly convened press conference, Chung said South Korea will delay publishing rules on U.S. beef imports and stop quarantine inspections of American meat until it receives answers from the U.S.
``I believe it will be the way for both national interests and people to find solutions while maintaining friendship and trust between our two nations,'' Chung said.
Earlier, the South Korean government and the ruling party had agreed to request Washington for a renegotiation of the April beef quarantine rules in the face of growing public discontent in South Korea.
Protests against U.S. beef imports have been escalating with tens of thousands of citizens taking to the streets almost every day since last month, clashing violently with police.
President Lee Myung-bak apologized last month for ignoring public health concerns and promised to restore the ban if there was a fresh outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy or mad cow disease.