U.S. beef focus of South Korean protest

SEOUL, July 5 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of South Koreans protested in Seoul Saturday against U.S beef imports, police said.

The estimated 50,000 people taking part in the peaceful demonstration in the capital's streets were attempting to draw attention to what they allege is unsafe beef that their government is now allowing to arrive from the United States, CNN reported.

The South Korean government announced in April it had reached a deal with the United States to begin importing U.S. beef for the first time in five years.

The lengthy ban had been put into place due to concerns the beef may be tainted with mad cow disease, CNN said.

South Korean store owners are split over whether to sell the controversial imports, but at least one shop owner said he has been having no problems selling the U.S. meat.

"It's selling like hot cakes,'' shop owner Park Chang-kyu told The Korea Times. "Of course, it was not an easy decision to sell American beef amid public sentiment hostile to U.S. beef. But look, it's amazing.''