05.08.08, 1:03 AM ET
South Korean government said it would consider demanding changes to its US beef import agreement because of the problem with mad cow disease. Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo said that the government may reconsider suspending imports if a new mad cow case emerges in the US in a nationally televised press conference.
In Korea, there is a huge Internet-driven tide of public criticism after the agreement of importing US beef was made. Korean government as well as US government has been saying that US beef is totally safe but thousands of people have staged candlelit protests against the imports.
Even though another mad-cow-case occurs, Korea cannot stop beef imports immediately as the government said in the press conference. Instead, it has to wait until the World Organization for Animal Health revises its position that US beef is safe.
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The percentage of a chance for human to get mad cow disease is not so high. Why people are so into this problem must be because of the anger: anger that their government has signed the contract even though they knew the dangers; anger that their government has no power to change this incidence; and anger that their protests and shouted-out opinions are not heard or of any concern.
Now what will come into play are the other beef-related products. Hanwu, the Korean beef as well as the Australian beef’s price will go up higher. Other companies which produce products such as instant food including fast food and noodle also will be concerned. The ones who protests that they do not use US beef will do well later on since they prevent the risk factor. This incidence might become a great opportunity for some companies or industries.
20500419 Entry #9
