hankyoreh

South Korean farmers and civic activists disrupted the sale of U.S. beef at some discount stores across the country Friday, claiming the meat is harmful to public health.

Lottemart, the second-largest discount outlet in the country, said that it has procured 40 tons of choice quality meat to sell in 53 stores, representing the first sale of American beef by a major retailer since late 2003.

The first shipment of U.S. beef to clear customs arrived in the country in late April, and more than 700 tons of U.S. beef has arrived as of last month.

The store said sales of the beef, priced at about half that of domestic beef, got off to a good start in most stores before customers turned away in the face of protests.

All sales were halted 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 U.S. ambassador to Seoul, from participating in a sales promotion campaign.

Protestors claimed that U.S. beef is unsafe and that buying it hurts the livelihoods of local cattle growers, who cannot 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 U.S. beef.

Protestors threw cow manure on the floors of some stores.

Despite the disruption, the retailer said that as of 2 p.m., it had sold a total of 2 tons of American beef worth 35 million won, quadruple the amount of all the imported beef sold by Lottemart during all of last Friday.

"There were many buyers interested in American beef, particularly among housewives, before the protest started," said a Lottemart executive.

He added that with the exception of the four stores, sales will continue into the weekend. Lottemart said it may buy up to 1,000 tons of American beef by year's end if customer reaction is favorable.

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 engaged in talks to expand imports to include beef ribs.
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap News)