South Korea: Protests against US beef imports
On May 2, many people in the capital Seoul of South Korea took to the streets to protest the government's decision to allow continued imports of US beef after Washington confirmed the first case of mad cow disease in six years.
On May 2, many people in the capital Seoul of South Korea took to the streets to protest the government's decision to allow continued imports of US beef after Washington confirmed the first case of mad cow disease in six years.
A crowd of about 500-1,000 protesters gathered in the center.
According to local media, about 4,000 police were deployed to ensure security at the protest area.
Protesters. (Source: AP)
The South Korean government has previously said it will continue importing US beef, but will also step up quarantine measures. According to the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, there is no direct link between the supply of beef imported from the US and the infected cow.
The decision has raised public health concerns in South Korea, the fourth-largest importer of US beef. In 2011, South Korea imported 107,000 tonnes of US beef.
Previously, there were street protests in this country when the government resumed importing US beef in 2008. South Korea issued a ban on importing US beef after the outbreak of mad cow disease in the US in late 2003./.
According to VNA
