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South Korea's Lee sacks top aides in shakeup
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-20 20:50 Analysts said anger at the Lee government could flare up again once results are released of talks between South Korean and US trade officials in Washington over voluntary restraints for the US beef trade. The envoys were trying to find a way to provide US government assurance on a private-sector pledge not to export beef from cattle older than 30 months, which is seen in South Korea as posing a higher risk of mad cow disease. South Korea was once the third-largest importer of US beef until it banned the product in 2003 due to an outbreak of mad cow disease in the United States. US lawmakers have said they would not ratify a separate, sweeping free trade deal unless South Korea opened up its market to US beef. Analysts said Lee will not be able to implement his reform plans that include privatisation of state assets and corporate tax cuts unless he can win back public support. Lee also needs parliament, which is now controlled by his conservative Grand National Party, to open and consider his reform bills, but a boycott by the left-of-centre opposition angered by the beef deal has kept it shut. |
