People gather at central Seoul Plaza for a protest against a U.S. beef import deal and the polices of the new president, whose government has faced a crisis due to the weeks of street rallies July 5, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    SEOUL, July 5 (Xinhua) -- More than 500,000 South Koreans will hold a candlelight vigil in central Seoul on Saturday night to protest against American beef imports, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

    Organizers said the upcoming demonstration in front of the Seoul City Hall will be one of the largest against U.S. beef import so far and will be participated by religious groups, opposition lawmakers, labor unionists, and civic activists.

    Although the organizers promised it will be a peaceful event, the authorities have tighten security measures in the capital city in case of violent conflicts between the protesters and the police.

    The demonstrations against South Korea's beef imports from the United States have last for about two months nationwide. Protesters criticized the government hurried to sign a deal to resume U.S. beef imports in April as they claimed the U.S. beef may not be safe from mad cow disease.