South Korea Protests Target U.S. Beef, Closer Ties (NPR) South Korean protesters took to the streets this week, angry over a new trade deal that would allow the importation of U.S. beef. Fears of mad cow disease prompted a ban on U.S. beef several years ago. South Korean trade officials visiting Washington this week are hoping to reach a compromise that will calm fears at home. [News Source]

The beef about U.S. beef. South Koreans' beef with U.S. beef is over the relatively low standards that Washington has for combating mad cow disease. Unlike its counterparts in the European Union and much of Asia, the U.S. tests only a small percentage of cows for the disease. [News Source]

US closely watches turmoil in Seoul over beef pact. The U.S. meat industry and government officials said on Wednesday they are closely monitoring fierce opposition in South Korea to a recent pact that would reopen its market to U.S. beef imports, but are optimistic Seoul will follow through on the deal. [News Source]

Skorea’s leader vows new start amid US beef crisis. Humbled by weeks of anti-government protests, South Korea's president said Wednesday his administration would seek to make a new start as one of his ministers again rejected calls to renegotiate a U.S. beef deal that helped spark the rallies. [News Source]

US: no plan to renegotiate on Korean beef. The Bush administration said Wednesday it will not renegotiate a deal that restored beef trade between the U.S. and South Korea, even as Seoul pushes for changes amid protests that threaten to bring down the pro-American government. [News Source]

South Korea minister to visit US over beef dispute. South Korea's top trade official said Thursday he would travel to the United States to seek restrictions on American beef shipped to his country in a bid to soothe anti-government protesters who fear mad cow disease. [News Source]

An anger in Korea over more than beef. The demonstration in Seoul on Tuesday against the president’s unpopular decision to lift an import ban on American beef also tapped into the volatile issue of Korean pride. [News Source]

Beef dispute intensifies in S. Korea. What began with high-school students worried about the safety of U.S. beef has swelled into a major challenge to the government. [News Source]

South Koreas trade minister to visit U.S. over beef battle (Houston Chronicle) Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon told reporters he would try to get Washington to approve measures under which the beef industry would voluntarily agree not to ship meat from cattle older than 30 months, which are believed to be more susceptible to mad cow disease. [News Source]

S Korea in beef dispute talks (Channel 4) South Korea's trade supremo has said he will travel to the US for talks on resuming American beef imports, following weeks of rallies by protesters citing concerns over mad cow disease. [News Source]