WORLD> Asia-Pacific
S. Korea cabinet offers resignation over US beef row
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-10 11:24

SEOUL  -- Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and the entire South Korean Cabinet offered to resign Tuesday amid an uproar over an unpopular deal to resume importing U.S. beef, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and other ministers bow to the nation in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday. [Agencies]

The move follows a similar resignation offer last week by top aides of President Lee Myung-bak. The offers are attempts to defuse a volatile situation that has brought tens of thousands of protesters into the streets of the South Korean capital, Seoul.

The eight staffers said they hold themselves responsible in the collective resignation offer, which was delivered to Lee by his chief of staff, according to Lee Dong-kwan, a spokesman for the president's office.

It was unclear whether Lee would accept the offers.

Washington and Seoul reached an agreement in April that would clear the way for South Korea to resume importing beef from the United States after a ban that lasted several years. South Korea halted imports amid concerns over a case of mad cow disease in the United States.


Police block protesters trying to march toward the presidential Blue House in Seoul after a candle-light vigil June 7, 2008.[Xinhua] 

The two sides agreed that the United States would not export high-risk materials, like tonsils, brains, spinal cord marrow and a section of the small intestine. It put no age restrictions on the cattle.

But last week, the South Korean government put off the final administrative step needed to resume imports. Without that step taking place, no beef will be imported from the United States.