South Koreans Protest over U.S. Beef Imports

80,000 demonstrators gathered Tuesday to protest South Korea’s plan to resume U.S. beef imports. It was the largest demonstration yet against the policy, prompting South Korea’s entire Cabinet to offer their resignations.

Protestors have been demanding the government abandon plans to resume the U.S. beef import deal or at least take additional steps to alleviate concerns of possible contamination. Fears of mad cow disease prompted the initial ban on imports of beef from the United States.

Violent protests over the weekend prompted South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to ask the U.S. Monday not to ship beef from cattle older than 30 months, even though it would be allowed under the initial arrangement.

Lee has rejected calls for a complete renegotiation of the deal, citing potential diplomatic and trade disputes with the United States. No word has been given as to whether Lee plans to accept his Cabinet members’ resignations.

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