South Korea Prime Minister Han Seung-soo sniffs

some U.S. beef. It may pass the smell test for,

him, but many of his fellow citizens aren't so sure.

The Hankyoreh, South Korea

Who Does the Korean Government Represent: Americans or Koreans?

"Most of the nation opposes resuming American beef imports and yet the government is going ahead with its plans anyway, which makes one seriously wonder: Who does this government exist for in the first place?"

EDITORIAL

June 26, 2008

South Korea - The Hankyoreh - Original Article (English)

Most of the nation opposes resuming American beef imports and yet the government is going ahead with its plans anyway, which makes one seriously wonder: Who does this government exist for in the first place?

The government says that through an “additional agreement,” it will ensure that the beef of cows older than 30 months at time of slaughter won't be imported. That includes four body parts - even from younger cows - that are at particular risk of carrying mad cow disease: the brain, the eye, the spinal cord and the skull from cows.

But most Koreans don't think the safety of American beef can be guaranteed through the voluntary self-regulation of American exporters. There was a time when there was an export certification program backed by the U.S. Federal Government, and over half of the beef imported from the United States was found to contain bone chips [these were prohibited]. How, then, is one supposed to believe now, at a time when there far less U.S. federal government regulation - in this voluntary private regulation? In addition, risk materials like intestines and spine from cows under 30 months old will still be permitted to enter the country.

This is why it's a matter of course that the majority of this nation wants to postpone the resumption of American beef imports and renegotiate the beef deal. With the country so ill at ease, going ahead with imports under this “additional agreement" requires dictatorial thinking and is a direct challenge to the people.

Given the way the government assured people that it wouldn't move too hastily to allow the resumption of beef imports, only to suddenly announce that it will be doing so right after the additional agreement was reached - one can see that instead of putting consideration of the people first, the government has done one of two things: It has sought to please the United States or allow itself to be pushed around on the issue.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

It has since been revealed that the American side asked that the official government announcement be made at the same time that the document of agreement was released to the public. This explains why the government hasn't shown the agreement to the Korean people. We can see why the United States would set as a precondition of sorts, a demand that the formal announcement about resuming imports be made early on. By doing so, Washington sought to have its beef resume entry into the Korean market without further losses or concessions.

Why does our government exist, and for whom? When deciding what parts should be bought and what parts shouldn’t and when [American] beef should again be sold to the people, it simply must put the interests of the Korean public first. It should go without saying, that the government requires the people’s consent in the course of doing so.

How can people trust in a government that is so desperate to satisfy the United States, without first going through the process of public discourse and without an adequate attempt to convince the public that it's doing the right thing? At the very least, it should take more seriously calls coming from within the president’s own ruling party to delay the resumption of U.S. beef imports. One worries about the future of this government.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US June 28, 4:17pm]