US beef imports in South Korea

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South Koreans protesting Lee Myung-bak's ties with the US. Cheonggyecheon, Seoul, May 3, 2008
South Koreans protesting Lee Myung-bak's ties with the US. Cheonggyecheon, Seoul, May 3, 2008

US beef imports in South Korea have been a contentious issue in South Korea-United States relations as the US government has sought to open the market to the product, and the South Korean government has been criticized for allegedly increasing the risk to public health in appeasing the US government.

Contents

[edit] Import ban

The Government of South Korea blocked most imports of US beef in 2003 because of fears over mad cow disease (BSE).[1] The United States Department of Agriculture had identified two BSE-infected cows, and only one that was born in the USA (one of the animals actually came from Canada).[2] At the time, South Korea had been the third-largest market for US beef exports at an annual value of $815 million. When Lee Myung-bak was inaugurated on 25 February 2008, he stated his willingness to strengthen South Korea-United States relations; he agreed to relax restrictions on beef imports from the US. According to the World Organization for Animal Health, the United States is currently recognized as a BSE-controlled country.[3]

[edit] Protests

Protest by Seoul citizens at Cheonggyecheon
Protest by Seoul citizens at Cheonggyecheon

The relaxation restrictions on beef imports from the US which caused public protests starting with candlelight vigils of middle and high school students and eventually including calls for President Lee's impeachment.[4]Lee had been elected with the biggest margin of victory in decades, but his approval rating dropped below 20 percent during the protests and his entire cabinet offered their resignations.[5] More than 40,000 protesters gathered on Sejong Street in central Seoul on 31 May 2008 and police detained more than 200 after violent clashes.[6] More than 10,000 riot police were used to control the protesters; water cannon was used in some instances.[7] In response to the protests, the Lee Myung-bak administration delayed announcing the newer relaxed regulations,[8] which would not have discriminated against the import of cattle aged over 30 months. Younger cattle are thought to carry less of a risk of BSE.

[edit] Reaction to protests

Kim Dae-joong, arguably one of Korea's most respected conservative columnists, (not to be confused with former Korean President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kim Dae-jung) wrote, "it amounts to double-crossing to be really fond of America in all substantive matters, while bad-mouthing America in public protests" in an op-ed piece.[9]

The then-U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns said, "In beef trade issues, we base our decisions upon science." The comment was considered very inflammatory by Koreans and stoked Anti-American sentiment in Korea‎.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "South Korea relaxes US beef ban", BBC News, 18 April 2008. 
  2. ^ JOHANNS, MIKE. "TRANSCRIPT OF REMARKS BY AGRICULTURE SECRETARY MIKE JOHANNS CONCERNING U.S. BEEF EXPORTS", United States Department of Agriculture, JANUARY 24, 2006. 
  3. ^ Hwang, Jang-jin. "Lee puts public health before beef", The Korea Herald, 08 May 2008. 
  4. ^ "South Korea to resume U.S. beef imports", CNN, May 29, 2008. 
  5. ^ CHOE, SANG-HUN. "S. Korean Cabinet Offers to Quit After Beef Protests", New York Times, June 10, 2008. 
  6. ^ "S. Korea delays U.S. beef imports", CNN, June 2, 2008. 
  7. ^ "Clashes over U.S. beef in S. Korea", CNN, June 2, 2008. 
  8. ^ "South Korea delays resumption of U.S. beef imports", Reuters, Jun 2, 2008. 
  9. ^ Huer, John. "Beef and Anti-Americanism", The Korea Times, 05-25-2008. 

[edit] External links

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