By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo told university student leaders that the government will ``humbly accept public opinion to resolve U.S. beef import issues without hurting the nation's international credit standing.''
Han met presidents of student associations of 31 universities across the nation Friday at Yonsei University to discuss the government's decision to resume American beef imports and ongoing public protest against the agreement.
The meeting came as a growing number of university students joined candlelit protests in central Seoul. Han accepted an invitation to the forum from the association of the university students.
``As we have said, the government will handle this issue, weighing people's health and security most importantly,'' Han said. ``I apologize to the people for failing to meet people's expectations and causing worries involving the beef issue.''
During the meeting, Jeju University's Kang Dong-ho said the government is not listening to what the people want and is trying to resolve the issue with makeshift reactions without trying to renegotiate the deal.
The government is trying to talk U.S. beef exporters into shipping beef from cattle aged 30 months or less instead of renegotiating the deal and amend the agreement with the U.S. government.
``It's an attempt to deceive the people. The people won't accept such a scheme,'' Kang said.
In response, Han said that the government will make sure that all beef from U.S. will be less than 30 months old as demanded by the people.
``The government will make sure that it will block U.S. beef older than 30 months,'' Han said. He said 95 percent of U.S. beef exports are exporting beef from cattle younger than 30 months.
Yonsei University's Seong Chi-hoon criticized police for their violent handling of demonstrators.
``During the candlelit protests, we asked the police not to fire water cannons. But they used them, leaving many people injured,'' Seong said.
Han regretted that police used excess force during the crackdown on demonstrators.
When Han was entering the school's 100th anniversary hall for the meeting a small group of students chanted slogans such as, ``President Lee Myung-bak Out!'' or ``Han Seung-soo Out.''
They also held placards denouncing the government for signing the deal to import U.S. beef, with one reading: ``The people are not fools. Renegotiate the deal.''
Han said that the government will accept public opinion and protect the health of the people.
``We will humbly accept criticism and correct what should be corrected. I hope this meeting will help narrow the gap between the people and government.''