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Mad cow fears grip S.Koreans
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-29 08:58
Though relatively small compared to major protests in recent years -- such as one that drew 50,000 people to downtown Seoul in 2004 to oppose moves to impeach then President Roh Moo-hyun -- the fact the demonstrations refuse to die out has the government on the defensive. Lee went on television last week to apologize for not having gained public understanding. The government has at least twice delayed taking the final administrative step required for imports to resume. Some have grown weary of the clamor and are calling for the nation to move on. "Actions by these people may be effective in shaking this government, but are not conducive at all to reviving the economy and stabilizing state affairs and livelihoods, which most of the people want," the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial Monday. Suspicions the openly pro-American Lee was too eager to give in to Washington on the beef issue to help ensure passage of a bilateral free trade agreement, under fire from members of Congress in US beef-producing states, have not helped. The office of US Trade Representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter. Indeed, Lee's image, that of a can-do former businessman that helped him win office by a landslide, has taken a hit, with his approval ratings falling sharply amid the view he has behaved arrogantly. "Lee ruled us as if he was a CEO and his people were employees," said Oh Se-young, a 43-year-old software company worker. |
