South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has been ailed by escalating public protests over his administration's dealing with Washington to fully resume beef imports from the United States.  (Xinhua/Reuters file Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    SEOUL, June 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has been ailed by escalating public protests over his administration's dealing with Washington to fully resume beef imports from the United States.

    Tens of thousands of South Koreans have held candlelight vigils almost daily since early May, calling for a renegotiation of the deal, which is a result of concerns over the mad cow disease.

    The beef imports issue is the most complicated challenge that Lee has faced since taking office in February.

    DISTURBING BEEF IMPORTS DEAL

    U.S. beef has been shut out of South Korean markets since the first known case of the mad cow disease in the United States was found in December 2003.

    In April 2007, South Korea reopened its market to U.S. beef but suspended imports again in October that same year after finding bones in imported U.S. beef.

    On April 18 this year, South Korea agreed to resume imports of U.S. beef and remove almost all quarantine restrictions imposed over fears of mad cow disease, including those on the age of butchered cattle.

    The deal was also expected to pave way for the ratification of a free trade agreement between Seoul and Washington by the U.S. Congress.

    But the deal sparked immense public concern over the mad cow disease and triggered fierce protests in South Korea. Protestors said the government did not shoulder enough responsibility to protect its citizens from potentially tainted beef.

    In the wake of mounting protests, the South Korean government delayed the implementation of the new quarantine standards and the deal has effectively unraveled.

    However, protests have shown no signs of abating. Violence flared over the past weekend when thousands of people trying to march to the presidential office clashed with riot police in downtown Seoul. Around 60 protesters and police officers were injured during the massive confrontation.

Protestors give bottles of water to riot policemen as they confront each other during a march toward the presidential Blue House in Seoul after a candle-light vigil June 7, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WORST POLITICAL CRISIS SINCE TAKING OFFICE

    The beef import issue has confounded the president, who took office in February after a landslide victory last December on a blueprint to boost the country's economic growth.

    To soothe growing public criticism and put an end to the worst political crisis he has faced since taking office, Lee has pledged to take measures for an administrative reform, including a reshuffle of the Cabinet and senior presidential secretaries, Yonhap news agency reported.

    Lee is also planning to meet with senior national leaders for their advice on how to overcome the political crisis, Yonhap quoted a presidential spokesperson as saying last Thursday.

Riot policemen run and break up protesters trying to march toward the presidential Blue House in Seoul after a candle-lit vigil June 7, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    But instead of a renegotiation, the president declared last Tuesday that his government will not allow the import of U.S. beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, which is considered to pose a greater risk of transmitting mad cow disease.

    Experts say the age limit is important because younger cows are believed less likely to contract bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), more commonly called the mad cow disease.

    SEEKING SUPPORT FROM WASHINGTON

    South Korea on Monday sent two separate delegations to Washington to discuss the disturbing beef imports deal in an effort to calm domestic political protests.

    A delegation of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), including four legislators and one party official, will urge Washington to promise in writing that it will not export beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, a GNP spokesman said.

Police block protesters trying to march toward the presidential Blue House in Seoul after a candle-light vigil June 7, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    In a separate mission, senior South Korean Presidential Secretary Kim Byung-kook was also to leave for the United States as early as Monday to discuss follow-up measures on Lee's phone talks with U.S. President George W. Bush.

    During a 20-minute phone conversation with Lee last Saturday, Bush promised to help ease fears of the South Korean public over beef imports, South Korean officials said.

    Bush reportedly also pledged to ensure that the United States would not export beef from cattle older than 30 months.

    In spite of the assurance from Bush, U.S. legislators have said they will not ratify a sweeping free trade agreement until after the South Korean beef market is opened up.

    Analysts say this precondition leaves Lee's administration in a dilemma and to find a solution that can satisfy the South Korean public is no easy job.