By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

Three opposition parties plan to boycott the official inaugural session of the new National Assembly if the government announces the resumption of U.S. beef imports in its policies publication, party sources said Monday.

They proposed that a meeting between President Lee Myung-bak and the leaders of the three parties be held as soon as possible to resolve the controversial issue.

The Assembly is to elect a new speaker and two vice speakers during an opening ceremony slated for Thursday. In addition, President Lee is scheduled to deliver an address to the parliament.

``We will make a final decision after the government presents more measures to resolve the beef issue and its plan to reshuffle Cabinet ministers and presidential aides,'' said Rep. Won Hye-young, chief policymaker of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP).

When asked whether they would boycott the opening of the Assembly or not, he said, ``We will… depending on the situation.''

A UDP official also raised negative prospects for starting the new parliament, saying, ``Many party lawmakers think now is not the time to sit and applaud the President's speech.''

A spokesman of the progressive Democratic Labor Party (DLP) made it clear that his party will boycott the Assembly.

Cheong Wa Dae is considering sacking some Cabinet ministers and presidential secretaries, holding them responsible for the public outrage against the opening of the local beef market to American products, according to sources. Protestors are concerned about the dangers of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) also known as mad cow disease.

Those to be dismissed include Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun and Health Minister Kim Soung-yee, the sources said.

Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said he feels responsible for failing to properly supervise Cabinet ministers.

``Utmost efforts should be made to solve this difficult problem,'' he said.

Presidential Chief of Staff Ryu Woo-ik apologized for the beef imports and negative public opinion over it, saying, ``I think I should take responsibility for the deteriorating situation.''

The UDP, however, still kept up its barrage of attacks, urging the government to withdraw the notification of the resumption of American beef imports and to renegotiate the issue with the United States.

``If the President tries to patch up the controversial issue and avert criticism by only firing ministers and some of his aides, we will firmly resist it,'' UDP Co-Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu said.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr