By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
A group of doctors on Wednesday held an American beef tasting event in order to soothe public anxiety toward its safety.
About 30 executives from the Korean Medical Association, the country's largest group of doctors, the Korean Hospital Association, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and various others gathered at Oredeream, a restaurant specializing in imported beef in southwestern Seoul, and ate short ribs and fillet.
``It is quite worrisome that many people are worried about U.S. meat causing human mad cow disease. We hope our tasting will give people the impression that the meat is safe,'' KMA president Choo Soo-ho said. He also called for the government's tightened inspection on the beef and distribution process.
The business leaders also called for people to focus on the future of the country rather than the meat safety issue.
``The candlelit rallies showed that all people in the nation are anxious about food safety in the country and I believe the government has heard it by now. Now that medical experts are taking the lead in eating the meat, I hope people will return home and focus on reviving the economy,''' KCCI chairman Sohn Kyung-shik said.