Thousands Gathered In Latest S Korea Beef Protest, Demanding President's Resignation

Seoul, South Korea (AHN) - Tens of thousands of South Koreans protested against the government's plan to resume U.S. beef imports under a new agreement between the two sides.

Police estimate 50,000 people turned out in Seoul on Saturday in the renewed demonstrations demanding he resignation of President Lee Myung-Bak and stopping the beef import plan.

In the latest mass protest, the crowd gathered in front of City Hall in the capital city of Seoul, waving banners, flags and candles.

Last month, the United States had struck a deal on beef exports with South Korea to ease the concerns related to meat safety.

South Korean President's administration announced that it had reached a deal with the U.S. to ensure the safety of beef imports in the country.

The U.S. has agreed not to export beef to South Korea from cattle older than 30 months, which is believed to carry a higher risk of mad cow disease or BSE, to quell public concern that sparked a political crisis.

The new mass protest is in the series of weeks long demonstrations sparked by the initial decision by the authorities to ease the quarantine regulations on U.S. beef based on the April 18 agreement with Washington.

Protesters have previously clashed with police, forcing riot troops to fire water cannon and arrest 228 people. Around 100 protesters and 40 security officers were wounded in the clashes, with a male citizen reportedly suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.

The U.S. beef imports were suspended for more than four years following the first U.S. case of mad cow disease in a Canadian-born cow in 2003 in Washington State.

It was planned that the markets will be reopened mainly for the U.S. to send in all cuts of beef from cattle of all ages but the countries like Japan will not be allowed as the locals still fear of mad cow disease.

However, after the latest agreement between the two countries, they will now introduce an age verification system.

Meanwhile, President Lee Myung-bak, who took office in February, has seen his popularity decrease among the masses, especially after the widespread protests started.