S. Korea ban on U.S. beef ends

SEOUL, June 27 (UPI) -- South Korea began inspecting U.S. beef shipments Friday as the eight-month old ban on imports officially ended.

The first U.S. beef is expected to be in stores next week, Yonhap news agency reported.

In recent weeks, thousands of people have demonstrated against the end of the import ban in protests that expanded to include other government policies. About 300 people gathered outside quarantine centers Friday.

The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service began checking beef Thursday that has been in frozen storage for eight months.

Under the agreement reached between President George W. Bush and President Lee Myung-bak, South Korea can continue to ban U.S. beef from cattle more than 30 months old.

U.S. beef was banned because of fear of mad cow disease.