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SEOUL : Tens of thousands of South Koreans rallied overnight and into Wednesday in the largest demonstration seen yet against the planned resumption of US beef imports.
News that the entire Cabinet had resigned did not have any impact on the protests which have grown in numbers daily.
Protest organisers said as many of one million people gathered across the country, with about 700,000 of them in the capital of Seoul.
Tuesday's rally was the largest in 21 years - when pro-democracy movements on 10 June 1987 brought about the end of military rule in the country.
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak came forward to say that he is determined to make a fresh start, but protest organisers said the only way to turn things around is to re-negotiate the beef deal reached with the United States.
"We assure you that until the day our demands - the demands of the majority of people - are fully met, we will continue to hold bigger rallies," said Nam Yoon In Soon, head of the Korean Women's Association United.
The rallies were triggered by President Lee's decision in April to lift all restrictions on imports of US beef which were banned in South Korea since 2003 over mad cow fears.
But now, the anger is not just over the beef issue.
Said Professor Chun Sang Jin at the Sociology Department at Sogang University: "We need to look closely as to when the chants demanding Lee Myung Bak to step down started. The protests were very violent at first. But if you look at President Lee's reaction, I think you can understand why there's so much anger and hostility.
"When he made that public announcement with the apology, there was no change in his stance. The message was 'You people are just stupid', that arrogant attitude that all will be fine if you just follow what I say."
The majority of South Koreans feel Mr Lee pushed through the beef deal simply to please the US. And critics said that will not work with the South Koreans.
Many South Koreans on Wednesday compared the relationship between the government now and the people with the shipping containers that were installed as barricades at several intersections leading to the presidential office
"He needs to re-negotiate the deal or come up with some similar measures. And he needs to do it fast. It will not be (President) Lee Myung Bak who will pay for that, but us, since we elected him. It's unfortunate but that can't be helped. We elected him," said Professor Chun.
President Lee won the presidential election with the largest margin ever in South Korea barely six months ago. But his popularity has now dropped to just 20 percent, and critics warned it could go further down unless he moves fast, before the people lose total trust in their leader. - CNA /ls
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