By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
Korea will restart the full-scale import of American beef Thursday for the first time in four and a half years.
The decision has invited backlash from opposition party lawmakers, civic groups and protestors.
The government and the governing Grand National Party (GNP) decided to post the import conditions in its state gazette Thursday, which indicates Seoul's implementation of the new beef import deal with Washington.
U.S. beef and beef products will likely be on sale here from early next month.
The main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) described the official posting of the full-market opening as an attempt to ``force'' the people to eat U.S. beef.
``The President is blackmailing consumers,'' the UDP said in a statement.
The minor opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP) likened the resumption of beef imports to promulgation of the martial law.
GNP floor leader Hong Joon-pyo dismissed speculation that there might be a behind-the-scenes deal in the additional beef talks.
Seoul and Washington said they reached a commercial ``understanding'' via recent additional discussion that American meat packers will refrain from exporting beef from cattle aged over 30 months for an unspecified period.
But according to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the understanding is merely a ``transitional'' measure, to improve Korean consumer confidence in American beef.
``The April 18 protocol defines conditions for importation of U.S. beef to South Korea and provides for a full reopening of the market,'' the USTR said. ``Both Korean importers and U.S. exporters reaffirmed the safety of all U.S. beef, regardless of age, in their statement and letter on June 20.''
Critics say the USTR statement hints that the commercial understanding has no legal binding power to reverse the April agreement.
Korea's Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon has insisted that the additional talks were successful, saying that meat from older cattle will be banned for a certain period under the ``Less Than 30 Month Age Verification Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program for Korea.''