SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Tensions reignited Thursday in South Korea after the government lifted an eight-month-old ban on U.S. beef imports, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported

    Opponents argue that the resumption of beef imports, as agreed in an April 18 deal between South Korea and the U.S., allows meat most likely to carry mad cow disease -- a brain-wasting malady that can also affect humans -- and call on the government to scrapit and seek a better one.

An anti-US beef rally in Seoul. South Korean police used water cannon and detained more than 130 people early Thursday when a protest against US beef imports turned violent.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Weeks of protests, which culminated in a June 10 candlelight rally that drew 80,000 people in the capital alone, prompted Seoul to dispatch its trade minister to Washington and win a promise that the U.S. would set up a system aimed at verifying exports of meat from cattle less than 30 months of age.

    On Thursday, they threatened that they would continue their protests and even begin a full-fledged campaign demanding President Lee Myung-bak step down.

    "We have come to a point where we can no longer stay away from raising the issue of forcing the administration out," said Park Won-seok, an official at a coalition of civic groups against the April deal.

    "It appears we'll now have to start a nationwide movement to challenge the government itself," he said, saying the coalition plans massive candlelight protests over the weekend to call for the withdrawal of the decision to resume U.S. beef imports and Lee's resignation.

    Since a hastily organized rally in downtown Seoul on Wednesday afternoon, over 130 protesters have been detained by authorities after scuffles with riot police using water cannons and fire extinguishers, according to police.

    About 3,000 people tried overnight to march on the presidential complex, throwing rocks and sand bags at riot squads and using ropes to pull police buses forming a blockade. A 53-year-old reportedly lost the tip of his finger when a riot police officer bit him during scuffles that ended when protesters retreated early Thursday to a nearby city plaza.

    Unionized workers also gathered at 12 refrigerating facilities around Seoul and in the southeastern port city of Busan, vowing to block the distribution of 5,300 tons of U.S. beef stored there following last year's suspension of imports.

    The efforts were in line with the announcement by a militant umbrella labor union that it has begun a nationwide strike over the restart of U.S. beef imports, but no actual walkouts have been reported.

    About 20 officials of the minor Democratic Labor Party attempted to enter the presidential residence to protest the detainment of one of their lawmakers at a rally a day earlier and the resumption of U.S. beef imports, but they were stopped by guards.

    "The government has trampled on our hopes," said Cheon Young-se, one of the party's five lawmakers, accusing the government of threatening public health for the sake of its alliance with Washington. 

S Korea vows stricter customs clearance for U.S. beef

    SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's customs authorities announced a set of measures Thursday to ensure the safety of U.S. beef. Full story

S Korean PM to deliver public statement over U.S. beef imports

   SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Prime Minister Han Seung-soo will issue a public statement Thursday to address local concerns over the safety of U.S. beef, officials said. Full story

S Korea President calls for ending dispute over U.S. beef safety

    SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bakon Thursday urged the country to end a protracted dispute over the safety of U.S. beef and launch efforts for economic revival. Full story

S Korean protesters block shipments of U.S. beef imports nationwide
   SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korean activists and unionists on Thursday blocked the distribution of U.S. beef stored at piers across the country, according to news reaching here from Busan, Incheon and Suwon. Full story

S Korea resumes U.S. beef imports amid strong protests

    SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of angry South Koreans continued overnight rallies in central Seoul till Thursday morning, as their government pushed for the implementation of the controversial deal with the U.S. on the resumption of beef imports.Full story     

S Korea issues legal notice on new U.S. beef import
    SEOUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea issued a legal notice Thursday, officially resuming imports of U.S. beef. According to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, U.S. beef -- including products that have been in frozen storage in South Korea since October last year -- will be inspected and goon sale beginning early next month. Full story

Opposition criticizes S Korean gov't's plan to enforce beef deal    

    SEOUL, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean opposition parties fiercely criticized government's decision to officially restart imports of U.S. beef Wednesday, vowing to continue the boycott, Yonhap news agency reported. Full story

S Korea to resume U.S. beef imports on Thursday
    SEOUL, June 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will start the procedure of U.S. beef imports on Thursday, the Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday. Full story

S Korean Constitutional Court to rule on petitions against U.S. beef   

    SEOUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Constitutional Court in South Korea will make a decision this week on the petitions aimed at scrapping a U.S. beef import agreement, Yonhap quoted its spokesman as saying Monday. Full story

S Korean PM requests stricter quarantine of U.S. beef    

    SEOUL, June 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Monday asked ministers to implement strict quarantine inspection of U.S. beef, according to the Yonhap news agency.  Full story

S Korean gov't not to rush implementation of U.S. beef import rules

    SEOUL, June 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's ruling party and the government said Sunday that they will postpone implementing new U.S. beef import rules for the time being as the public remains concerned over U.S. beef products, Yonhap news agency reported. Full story

S Korean public fear of U.S. beef not completely eased

   SEOUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Korea has been promised with extra health safeguards from the United States on beef imports, but it is still not clear whether the latest deal will completely eliminate public fear of American beef. Full story

S Korean presidential office says result of beef talks exceeds expectation

    SEOUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The office of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said on Saturday the result of the latest beef talks between South Korea and the United States exceeded previous expectations, expressing a wish that the newest deal would help end public distrust and concern over the safety of U.S. beef. Full story

S Korean PM applauds result of U.S. beef talks

SEOUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said Saturday that the result of additional beef talks between South Korea and the United States should pave the way for completely eliminating public fears of mad cow disease.Full story

S Korea, U.S. reach agreement on beef products 

    SEOUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the United States have agreed that the latter will certify that only beef from cattle less than 30 months old will be exported to the former, government sources said Saturday.Full story

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