By Cho Jae-hyon
City Editor
Many Koreans are enraged. Every night they vent their anger on the streets, slamming President Lee Myung-bak for mishandling U.S. beef imports.
Koreans are notorious for becoming emotional and irrational when they turn furious over some issue. They are eternally ``anti-something,'' whether it be the United States, foreigners or chaebol to name a few.
Can you understand people rallying for more than one month or university students boycotting classes in order not to eat beef from the United States? Or those parents who come along with toddlers and confront riot police wielding shields?
To clear-headed people, what's happening in downtown Seoul every day simply doesn't make sense. To them, those on the streets are all idiotic or insane ― a hysterical, ungrateful mob hating whatever under the name of the United States that helped build what Korea is now.
That's why U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow said he hopes that ``Koreans will begin to learn more about the science and about the facts of American beef.''
The Ambassador, ``disappointed'' at seemingly everlasting protests against the U.S. beef, made his point clear that Koreans are ignorant of the science of U.S. beef and his country sees no ``scientific justification to postpone implementation'' of the agreement struck with the Lee administration.
Certainly, he did not say Koreans are ignorant of ``science'' but pointed out that they need to learn more about ``the science of U.S. beef.''
Koreans didn't know there exists a science of U.S. beef. It's embarrassing. Therefore, they, as Vershbow told them, need to study more about the science of American beef.
On behalf of the United States, the Korean government ran a series of ads in local dailies to publicize the safety of American beef. President Lee, his secretaries and senior government officials sound very confident on the safety of beef from the United States.
It seems Lee does not understand why people are unhappy about the deal. Once doors are flung open, all juicy beef will deck their dining tables, school cafeterias and restaurants. They will be able to eat yummier beef cheaply.
So, what's this noise all about? Why are tens of thousands taking to the streets, causing a heck of a traffic jam and inconvenience for other innocent citizens for god's sake?
Lee must be having trouble coming to grips with the fact that the very people who gave him an overwhelming victory in the presidential election a few months ago are now turning their backs on him.
What drives the mob hysterical about such a not-so-important matter of importing beef? As ingeniously pointed out by a senior presidential secretary, it could be some ``satanic'' forces that cast spells on tens of thousands of people and summoning them into the streets night after night.
The pragmatic President disclosed the beef deal in front of a group of American business leaders on April 18, while his own people were left uninformed of the deal let alone details of the terms.
The CEO-turned President that people call ``the bulldozer'' ordered his negotiators to sign the deal before he met U.S. President George Bush at Camp David. Lee cast the bait of the beef deal for a quick passage of a free trade deal with the U.S. at the Congress.
However, he could not have imagined that his people would get so annoyed about the deal for which Bush thanked him so much. He overestimated his people who are far from rational or pragmatic. He was too hasty in pushing the deal.
They feel that his administration is ignoring their concerns about safety. In their eyes Lee is arrogant toward his own people and kowtowing to the United States.
Lee must have educated people about the facts of U.S. beef before bragging about the deal in front of U.S. businessmen.
Koreans know that they are paying several times the international price for domestic beef. They are also well aware of the fact that the beef deal is a must for the passage of the FTA at the U.S. Congress.
However, feeling unfairly treated, the citizens stood up to ask a question: ``Why didn't you ask me in the first place?'' The failure for Lee to ask them the question was the trigger of the candlelit vigils. They want to right the wrong by burning the candles. This raging mob will forge ahead until the point they want to make is driven home.
Lee has a choice to make. It's just a matter of yes or no. There is no in-between.