MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

S. Korean government on the cliff over US beef imports

Thousands of protestors in downtown Seoul continued an overnight street march into early Wednesday morning, calling for the renegotiation of a United States beef import agreement despite an offer by the entire South Korean Cabinet to resign, reported the local Yonhap news agency

Shouting, "Renegotiate!" and "Down with Lee Myung-bak!" demonstrators transformed Seoul's downtown streets into a sea of candles while traffic was completely blocked. Before midnight, Seoul police claimed that over 100,000 people participated in the largest candlelight rally yet over the impending resumption of US beef imports, while organizers claimed that 700,000 people attended. Police went on their highest alert, mobilizing 20,000 officers in Seoul and erecting giant barricades on all streets leading to the presidential office. The 5.5-meter high barricades, built with dozens of 4-ton containers, completely blocked any attempts by the demonstrators to advance. Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun came to the protest venue "to apologize directly to the public." Pushed aside and booed by angry protesters he had to leave. The downtown rally was the largest since 2004, when 130,000 people held candles in support for then President Roh Moo-hyun, who faced impeachment. Nationwide, organizers expected up to one million people at candlelight vigils. No major clashes or injuries were reported, police said. To soothe public anger, South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and all Cabinet ministers offered to resign on Tuesday to take responsibility for the intensifying political turmoil. President Lee had yet to accept the unprecedented collective resignation. Support for Lee, a former Hyundai CEO and ex-mayor of Seoul, has nose-dived to below 20%. Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan quoted Lee as saying, "The government has to prioritize the safety of the people in dealing with tonight's massive candlelight street rallies". Seoul agreed in April to allow imports of US beef from all ages of cattle, banning only specified risk materials (SRMs) from cattle older than 30 months. SRMs are parts such as tongues, brains, part of the intestines and vertebrae marrow, which have the greatest risk of transmitting mad cow disease to humans. Lee has repeatedly stated that South Korea will only import US beef from cattle younger than 30 months old. He asked for Washington's cooperation in his first-ever telephone talk with U.S. President George W. Bush over the weekend. Critics say that the beef pact cannot protect South Koreans from mad cow disease. Civic groups have suggested that Seoul impose stricter guidelines and ban meat from cattle older than 20 months, like Japan, as younger cattle are less prone to contracting the brain-wasting illness. Tuesday's rally marked the anniversary of the historic June 10, 1987 pro-democracy protest, which was sparked by the death of a 22-year-old Yonsei University student. Lee Han-yeol was struck on the head by a tear gas canister while protesting, over one million Koreans took to the streets, forcing the then Chun Doo-hwan military regime to adopt a direct presidential election system.