July 16, 2007

 

South Korean farmer activists blocks US beef sales in discount stores

 

 

Farmers and activists in South Korea have tried to bar the sale of US beef at some discount stores on Friday (July 13).

 

The protesters claim US beef is hazardous to health.

 

Lottemart, the second-largest discount outlet in the country, said that it will distribute 40 tonnes of choice in 53 stores, indicating the first sale of US beef by a major Korean retailer since late 2003.

 

The debut of US beef since its ban three years ago arrived in late April, and more than 700 tonnes of US beef have already arrived as of last month.

 

The store said US beef sales got off in a good start in most stores because of its quality and lower price compared to its domestic counterpart.

 

All sales stopped at Lottemart's Seoul Station store and its outlets in Anseong, Chungju and Gwangju.

 

The protest at the Seoul Station store prevented Alexander Vershbow, the US ambassador to Seoul, from participating in a sales promotion campaign.

 

Aside from being unsafe, rallyists claim US beef hurts the local cattle growers who are unable to compete against the cheaper meat.

Some argued that Lottemart is unpatriotic and does not consider the health of consumers, who could contract mad cow disease from the US beef.

 

Despite the protest -- which included throwing cow manure on the floors of some stores -- Lottemart said it had already sold of 2 tonnes of US beef worth 35 million won (US$38,232), four times more than the amount of all the imported beef sold the other week.

 

An executive from Lottemart said it may buy up to 1,000 tonnes of American beef by year's end if customer reaction is favourable.

 

South Korea banned American beef in December 2003 after the discovery of mad cow disease. After negotiations lasting more than a year, Seoul agreed in January 2006 to import boneless beef from cattle under 30 months old. The two countries are currently in talks to expand imports to include beef ribs.