- Title: SOUTH KOREA: Importing of U.S. beef is to restart
- Date: 25th June 2008
- Summary: RIOT POLICE AND PROTESTERS SCUFFLING PROTESTERS AND RIOT POLICE CONFRONTING EACH OTHER PROTESTER BEING TAKEN BY POLICE MEN PROTESTERS AND RIOT POLICE CONFRONTING EACH OTHER (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 32-YEAR-OLD CHO YI-HEON SAYING: "The reworking of the U.S. was very weak, and it wasn't something we wanted because it excluded our request. However, the government is enforcing to
- Embargoed: 10th July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA2ECJEL1ICFB96IHB0KNWGYN2P
- Story Text: South Korea will allow the resumption of U.S. beef imports starting on Thursday (June 26), the trade minister confirmed on Wednesday (June 25), implementing an unpopular deal that sparked street protests and caused a crisis for the government.
South Korea and the United States at the weekend said they had reached a private-sector deal to restrict trade in U.S. beef to cattle under 30-months-old and to forbid exports of parts that are thought to pose a higher risk of mad cow disease.
"Today, the Farm Minister requested the publication of the legal notice. Also, as far as I know, the contents were sent out as the Farm Minister press release," said South Korean Trade Minister, Kim Jong-Hoon.
Once the legal notice for the resumption is published on Thursday, some 5,300 tonnes of U.S. beef that has been in frozen storage in South Korea for months could be inspected and then quickly head to stores.
But government officials said they do not expect importers to immediately request quarantine checks.
"I am only able to repeat 'up until the trust of Korean consumers improves.' I can clearly say that there's no specific time agreed to expire on the program," added Kim.
Earlier, hundreds of South Korean protesters rallied to denounce the farm ministry's request for the legal notice of the resumption. They scuffled with riot police blocking them and about 30 of them were taken by the police during the protests.
"The reworking of the U.S. was very weak, and it wasn't something we wanted because it excluded our request. However, the government is enforcing to make an official publication under any circumstances and doesn't want to listen to the people," said 32-year-old Cho Yi-heon.
South Korea, which blocked imports of U.S. beef in 2003 after an outbreak of mad cow disease, had briefly allowed in boneless meat from cattle under 30 months old last year but suspended imports after prohibited material was found in shipments.
The new deal will allow in beef containing bones and other parts of cattle deemed of lower mad cow risk than brain and spinal material.
South Korean officials said the reworked pact would increase safety checks on U.S. beef, but hours after it was announced last Saturday (June 21), a violent rally erupted in Seoul with protesters smashing police buses blocking the way to the presidential Blue House.
President Lee Myung-bak, who scored a landslide in a December election, has seen his popularity plummet after his government signed a deal in April to allow the import of U.S. beef from cattle of all ages.
That deal sparked street protests among those concerned about mad cow disease that later mushroomed into nearly nightly protests against Lee's government, which wants to reform pension systems and privatise state-run firms.
The White House said on Tuesday (June 24) that President George W. Bush would not visit South Korea next month. Analysts said the White House was likely concerned that a visit planned for early July could strain ties.
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