Nationwide protests
continue over the impending resumption of U.S. beef imports.
Dong-A Ilbo, South Korea
Scare Over U.S.
Beef Kills Korean Appetite
"If this trend continues,
restaurants which specialize in Korean barbecue will have no choice but to
close … An increasing number of people
say they have lost their appetite for beef and some housewives say they have
thrown away the beef-bone soup they usually keep in the refrigerator."
EDITORIAL
May 9, 2008
South
Korea - Dong-A Ilbo - Original Article (English)
In the wake of the rumors
circulating about U.S. beef being allegedly susceptible to mad cow disease, the
consumption of Korean beef has also plunged. One Korean beef restaurant in
downtown Seoul, which used to be bustling with diners during weekday evenings,
now fills a mere couple of tables. The owner, who says he's considering
changing his business, laid bare his concerns.
“If this trend continues,
restaurants which specialize in Korean barbecue will have no choice but to
close." After watching gruesome TV programs featuring cows being
slaughtered, an increasing number of people say they have lost their appetite
for beef and some housewives say they have thrown away the beef-bone soup they
usually keep in the refrigerator.
The harmful repercussions of the
drop in customers for beef at butcher shops and restaurants may soon reach
beyond wholesalers and slaughterhouses to stock-breeding farms. In the
aftermath of the groundless stories on the Internet, beef prices at the point
of origin have plunged, making it hard for farmers to trade their cattle. These
are the devastating results of the irresponsible spreading of false rumors and
the inaccurate information displayed online and in the media. Our own neighbors
like the self-employed business people and farms that raise Korean cattle are
the biggest victims of the rumors and incendiary protests over U.S. beef.
Of all South Korean workers,
the percentage of people who are self-employed accounted for 26.5 percent of the
population as of 2006, about 10 percent higher than that of all other advanced
nations. The increase in the number of independent enterprises is a sad
consequence of the financial crisis of the late 1990s [AKA the East Asia
Currency Crisis 
]. This occurred
when large numbers of middle-aged men jumped to create their own businesses
after being laid off due to corporate restructuring. To make ends meet, a
significant number of them resorted to having family members join them. The
competition among all of these businesses, however, brought about endless
business closures.
The scare stories circulating
online come as fears over commodity inflation are rising - including in regard
to the price of flour, which has inflicted suffering on customers and
businesses alike. And which is why small chicken-related businesses have
suffered a double blow, given the spread of bird flu nationwide. Sales of
chicken at large-scale retailers has taken a nose-dive and restaurants
specializing in poultry-related cuisine have seen their customers cut by a
third.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
In an attempt to allay public
concern over bird flu, President Lee Myung-bak had boiled chicken soup for
lunch at a diner in Cheong Wa Dae yesterday. That's a start, but it hardly
addresses the urgency of keeping negative public sentiment over beef and
chicken consumption from spiraling out of control. The government must no
longer sit idly by as innocent citizens fly into a frenzy, victimized by
unfounded horror stories.
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US May 9, 12:54pm]
