South Koreans have been protesting since late April on the government’s decision to reimport US beef. The protest reached its peak since Friday with tens of thousands of protestors flocking Seoul in a 72-hour rally to pressure president Lee Myung-bak to renegotiate the deal.
US beef had been banned by South Korea since the first case of mad cow disease in the US was discovered in late 2003. Lee’s government however signed an agreement in April 2008 to resume importing US beef to clear the path for a broader free trade agreement, which could see 20 billion dollars rise in annual trade between the two countries.
The decision is not welcomed by the public, stating public health concerns. The government tried to calm public anger by asking the United States to refrain from exporting any beef from cattle above 30 months old (which is more proned to the disease) but it doesn’t go well with the public which are asking for a complete renegotiation.
the koreans seem to be pretty concerned…or should i say overly concerned?
it’s good that they take their health seriously, but doesn’t the us export their beef to other countries as well? the beef’s not that dangerous, is it? maybe i’d have to be a korean to understand…
There are some other complications involved obviously… both countries have been in a love-hate relationship for some years. The free trade agreement itself has been constantly protested by some Koreans occasionally… the beef issue is merely adding fuel to a fire and caused a huge burst.
Hmmm, 2003 is a fairly good distance in the past since all that happened. No serious reports of massive cases of mad cow have been reported that I’ve heard of. I remember the US banning cattle from the UK which is where the first cases were I think. But I believe that ban may be no more if I’m not mistaken.
I agree with Yein Jee. This really sounds more like an ongoing anti-American thing over some other issues.
note: I’m always amused at the pictures of smiling faces among the crowds of “angry protestors”. Some folks just enjoy getting out in the streets to be seen, mingle, socialize, and wave their arms and signs while smiling ‘BIG’ for the camera ……………………..people… lol.
Some of the protestors don’t necessary understand what they are fighting for… it’s because their friends said so, or perhaps their favourite politicians have told them something, or perhaps they just like the experience of trying to change the nation with their own power.
Those who are serious with their pledge won’t mind some others having fun obviously… numbers matter in demo, the more the merrier perhaps.
In America I’ve heard of some groups of “professional protestors” (usually old hippie throwbacks from the sixties or some of their younger copycats) that go around ‘looking’ for the next event to attend. These are mostly radical anti-establishment types who jump at any chance to get out in the streets. Those types I sometimes wonder about.
Legitimate protesting is fine and good sometimes when the subject really merits it. And sometimes it does some good because it lets the governments know what the people want and feel. You just hope those things don’t get out of hand as they sometimes do.
Interesting story… perhaps there are people who got nothing better to do.
I am not sure why they need to protest against beef import… if they are afraid of US beef, just don’t buy it and let the numbers do the talking. The US beef exporters won’t bother exporting their beef it there is no business there.
A middle-age man lid himself in fire last week to protest against this beef import, and some people were trying to assault a police vehicle during the weekend. Well, just hope that it won’t get worse.
the cows must be proud that people are paying so many attention to them.
Yes, I believe some people have nothing better to do.
Wow, lighting himself on fire?! That’s a bit extreme over beef imports. Sounds like that guy had some other issues.
[...] The major incident that prompted the protest happened in late July when the police searched the car of the Jogye Order leader, the Venerable Jigwan, in the course of arresting Buddhist activists that were suspected to have sought refuge in the temple. The activists are wanted for their alleged involvement in the US beef protest. [...]