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SEOUL : For the first time in four years, US beef will be back on the menu in South Korea.
In a 'live' televised speech, South Korea's Agriculture Minister Chung Woon Chun said the imports will be inspected thoroughly. The news, however, sparked angry reaction from various groups in South Korea.
More than 1,000 South Korean policemen were put on alert following the announcement by the government to start importing US beef from next week.
Labour unions have vowed to block the distribution of shipments of US beef and protesters threatened to continue with the rallies.
"We are against the government's unilateral decision to announce it without talking to the people when our people are against the beef imports. We are against the imports of cattle with mad cow disease," said Lim Ji Ae, a protester.
Thousands of South Koreans have been staging rallies in Seoul over the past few weeks to protest the government's decision last month to lift the ban on US beef imports. Some of the rallies have recently turned violent as the government started to crack down on the protesters.
The United States and South Korea agreed in April to resume trade from May 15, but that was delayed twice due to protests and complaints from consumer groups.
South Korea was once the third largest market for US beef. But in 2003, all import of US beef was banned in the country to the fears of the mad cow disease.
The restrictions were partially lifted in 2006. But they were again halted last October after bone fragments were found in US shipments.
South Korea's parliament also failed to ratify the Free Trade Agreement with the US after opposition parties demanded President Lee Myung Bak's government to re-negotiate the beef deal with Washington.
Experts said the government's decision to allow US beef imports is expected to lead to more anti-government rallies in Seoul and across the country. - CNA /ls
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