Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nuthatch]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7479560.stm


Clashes in Seoul over US beef row
South Korean police have used water cannon to disperse thousands of people in the capital Seoul protesting against the resumption of US beef imports.

The protests took place as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice insisted in Seoul that US beef was safe to eat.

South Korea suspended US beef imports in 2003 after a case of mad cow disease, or BSE, was identified there.

Earlier this week, it formally lifted the ban, allowing shipments of meat from young US cattle.

An agreement on ending the ban was reached in April and it was due to be lifted in May, but this was twice postponed as protests continued, despite reassurances that US meat was safe.

Anger

At least 13,000 people demonstrated in Soul on Saturday, police said.


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Police use water cannon on the protesters

The police erected barricades, using buses to prevent the protesters from marching towards the presidential office.

"We don't need US troops, we don't need US mad cows," read some of the slogans.

Public anger in South Korea remains high at what is perceived by many as the government's readiness to cave into Washington and ignore health concerns.

The latest protest came as Ms Rice was visiting Seoul.

"I can only say that American beef is safe and that we hope in time the South Korean people will listen to that, and will be willing to listen to what their government is saying and what we are saying," Ms Rice said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7479560.stm

Published: 2008/06/28 19:44:40 GMT

� BBC MMVIII

[sojourner1]

Wow, that's out of control. What this just last night?

[nuthatch]

yes, ... Saturday night I think it says...

...here it is also in The New York Times...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/world/asia/29korea.html?_r=1&ref=asia&oref=slogin


June 29, 2008
15,000 Protesters Defy Government in Seoul
By CHOE SANG-HUN

SEOUL, South Korea � Thousands of people opposing American beef imports clashed with the police in a protest that continued into early Sunday morning, hours after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged South Koreans to accept their government�s decision to lift an import ban on beef from the United States.

More than 15,000 people demonstrated in central Seoul on Saturday evening, despite a warning from President Lee Myung-bak that he would begin to deal sternly with protesters who have been disrupting his government for almost two months.

Ms. Rice met with Mr. Lee and Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan here on Saturday afterthey saw progress in efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs. North Korea submitted a long-delayed account of its nuclear programs last week and demolished part of its main nuclear complex.

But in Seoul, the protests against American beef eclipsed the talks on North Korea�s nuclear status, posing a challenge to officials here and in Washington.

The protests against American beef imports began in early May and dwindled over the past two weeks. But they picked up momentum again after the government moved to lift the import ban on Thursday. Many South Koreans fear that American beef is not safe from mad cow disease.

�I want to assure everyone that American beef is safe,� Ms. Rice said at a news conference here on Saturday.



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[seoulsucker]

[Join Me]

Watch the first part of that video closely. At one point they show the riot police on top of the bus ducking down not to get hit by water. Want to know why? Because the protesters have a fire hose and are blasting the police with it. I saw them using it on another video. How the hell is it that rioters are allowed to come in and hook up a fire hose and use it against the police?

In the Korea Times they have an article titled, "Central Seoul Becomes Lawless District." I live close to this area and I fully agree that this is not an overstatement. The rioters pretty much occupy the city hall lawn day and night. President Lee had a good idea to let this try to fizzle out on its own. But now he needs to come in and clean up the rest. Citizens are now getting very tired of this and the problems (transportation) it is causing on a daily basis. He is going to look like a very weak man if he does not take action to put an end to these protests soon.

[nuthatch]

Seoulsucker:

Yes, that is a glaring typo not caught by the copyeditor at the BBC.

However, "Nuthatch" did not make/write the error...!

[spliff]

If they don't like The US, *beep* them...ain't naught they can do about it! South Korea has to do what the US tells it to do, plain and simple...

[hogwonguy1979]

[ulsanchris]

The protests last week looked much more intense. OR at least the highlights of them on CNN looked more intense.

[SHANE02]

http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=fw1HLKrZsWo&feature=related

[matthews_world]

Don't click that link, people. This is the previous poster's attempt at being funny.