(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The majority of people in South Korea think street protests against a decision to allow American beef imports should stop, according to a poll by Gallup Korea published in Chosun Ilbo. 57.2 per cent of respondents agree with this view, while 37.9 per cent think the demonstrations should continue.

In December 2007, Lee Myung-bak—a member of the Grand National Party (GNP) and a former mayor of Seoul—won the presidential election with 48.7 per cent of the vote. He became South Korea’s head of state on Feb. 25.

Lee faced his first major challenge in May, when his administration agreed to resume beef imports from the United States. American beef had been banned in the Asian country due to fears that it might be contaminated with mad cow disease. Critics accused Lee of ignoring a health risk by reopening the imports to secure the passing of a free trade deal with Washington that was signed in June 2007, but has not yet been ratified by the legislatures in either country.

Thousands of people protested the decision, and called for a revision of the terms of the trade deal. On May 22, Lee tried to appease public outcry over the issue, calling the concerns over the commerce agreement "groundless" and "heartbreaking." He also apologized for the way the government handled the issue.

In April, South Korean voters renewed the National Assembly. On Jun. 5, opposition parties boycotted the first session of the new legislature over the beef import issue.

Street protests related to the decision have continued. On Jul. 2, South Korean auto workers went on a one-day strike to oppose what they called Lee’s "pro-business policies" and the decision to allow American beef imports.

Lee Suk-haeng, leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, explained the decision, saying, "This is not a political strike, but a strike that is aimed at protecting our right to health. (...) We want to live long and healthily."

Polling Data

Do you think the street protests against U.S. beef imports should end?

Source: Gallup Korea / Chosun Ilbo
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,013 South Korean adults, conducted on Jun. 28, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

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