I figured it was only a matter of time before the Korean-American community weighed in on the current US beef nonsense going on in Korea:
The Korean American Association of Greater New York has blasted some media outlets in Seoul for, as the organization put it, irresponsibly reporting groundless claims on the safety of U.S. beef.
They said the beef that ethnic Koreans consume in the U.S. and that is exported to Korea are the same, stressing it as proof of the beef’s safety.
The association claimed the image of Korea and Koreans is deteriorating in the U.S. because of such people in Seoul who use the mad cow scare to block the import of U.S. beef. Members said the move will adversely affect their own effort to have the Congress ratify the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.
They urged responsible reporting by the Korean media saying groundless claims can snowball out of control in Internet-savvy Korea, distorting public opinion and fanning anxiety. [KBS Global]
The supposed Korean gene that makes them more susceptible to mad cow disease is some how remedied once a Korean moves to America it seems. Must be something in the air I guess.
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The fact no mad cow disease scare has risen in American society some years after the initial case (rightfully) caused Korea to (temporarily) ban US beef is a no-brainer.
The extraordinary claims that have recently been flung out also help anybody see the problem with the anti-US habits.
The fact the groups were targeting high school students to promoting protesting is also a part of the anti-US habit over the last 5 to 10 years.
The media’s reaction to Lee’s visit to the US and the beef deal has also partly (just partly) validating my claim that Korean society feels more free to promote Korean nationalism through anti-Americanism (for domestic consumption) when a pro-US alliance conservative is in the Blue House.
And seeing some notes like the Joongang Daily’s editorial — which ripped into the beef-mongering like an expat in the K-blogsphere — is a hopeful sign that there has been some movement toward the positive the last 5 years and we will not see a full return to pre-2002/2003 anit-US habits.
If a few of the strong voices in the society, particularly in the media (and education), would stand up with a differing opinion from the anti-US types, it would be a lot better for Korea (and for us).
i guess if it was against american beef, koreans in korea would find something to have a “beef” about (hah, that was a lame joke).
i am tired of people letting bitterness and anger poison them. it’s sad to see koreans have fallen into that trap.
btw i am korean-american, and only write the above because it worries me that south koreans seem not to realize who their allies are! if america isn’t south korea’s ally, then south korea has no allies =T
The American government, society and corporations skirt around this issue and refuse to directly address it. For political reasons, they will not give the attention, funding or publicity necessary to develop a solution.
Some government-funded “scientists” even claim it is not a real disease.
Even for those who admit its existence, the general strategy just seems to be to wait it out and hope for the best while ignoring or concealing the problem.
Many people will even get defensive, bordering on hostile, if an honest conversation, based only on facts, is attempted.
So, at this time, we have a widely-recognized disease with no cure and no treatment… and nobody seems to care to find one.
On top of all that, there is evidence that around fifty percent of our population has some symptoms associated with this disease. Worse, based on historical studies and mathematical models, there is a good chance this incurable condition will be passed on to around half of the the next generation after a 10 to 15 year incubation period.
Further, most people are oblivious to the true danger caused by an aggressive, overweight animal acting unreasonably and out of control.
Oh… uh… wait. Mad cow? I thought we were talking about PMS. I get those two confused all the time.
Uh… never mind.
What was that mad cow disease again?
But this miserable country had no hope!
I don’t believe a thing the retarded Korean media says anymore. People are blind, irrational, can’t control their emotions, uncivilized, and they HATE EVERYONE!
They hate the Japanese, they hate the Chinese, they hate the North Koreans, they hate the Americans, they hate the Korean decendents of Chinese citizens, they hate the Korean Americans, they look down on South East Asians, they resent Brits calling them dog eaters, they call the Taiwanese the island-chinks, the list goes on and on and on and on!
Frankly, I no longer take seriously of both Koreans and Chinese callings of the rape of Nanjing or Comfort Women. Even if it is true, SO WHAT? It happened decades ago, STOP bitching and move on!
For a moment, I thought South Koreans can finally behave like a civilized society and perhaps act like a developed nation… but who am I kiddin? Freaking hopeless country… blind… angry… destroying themselve… sad!
Maybe the USA can ship them out for their own safety. LOL. Kyopos too
. If Koreans have inferior and defective genes like the Chosun ilbo claims, then the USA should be careful about alowing them on their soil.
As it stands, the USA has rules regarding people with AIDS I belive, maybe Koreans and their defective genes need to be put in a similar catagory.
thanks for the heads up!
Read the signed US-Korea Beef Protocol:
http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=11988
Korea is NOT getting US beef older than 30 months.
“No Hope”, read “Shattered”, do you really think it matters what you say? In the end, you’re just another same stupid Korean to them, that you just described.
They just want their relatives in the anti American groups to cool it until the US KOR FTA passes. Then they will continue to boycott American products. Its sad to think that American will be such suckers and will believe the Koreans.
Tom, yes I do think YU are a stupid Korean. But I think “no hope” gives me a lot of hope. “No Hope” speaks the truth, and its clear that YU hate him for that, and not me.
threat of mad cow disease? seriously, minimal at best, probably ZERO
threat of North Korea? nukes, million-man army, 50K rockets pointed at Seoul?
can’t S.Koreans weigh the real risks in the world?
as one of the other poster said, S.Koreans need to stop hating everybody =b
and also realize that Korea’s safety depends on good relations w/ American (and yes, Japan too!)
Where did you get only T-bone steaks? The only mention of T-bone steaks are in Addendum, Para 4 as a trial period:
“During the first 180 days following the effective date of these import health requirements, exports of T-bone and Porterhouse steaks will be accompanied by some
notation on the box that confirms for Korean officials that these cuts of beef come from cattle under 30 months of age. The Korean government and the U.S. government agree to have consultations upon the completion of the 280 day period with a view to addressing concerns after reviewing the notation’s effect on beef trade and its inspection.”
Reread again under Requirements of Beef Products, Para 17:
“The beef or beef products were produced and handled in a manner as to prevent contamination from SRMs or from MSM from the skull and vertebral column of cattle 30 months of age and over, in accordance with FSIS regulations.”
And if you need a definition on “beef or beef products”, see Definitions, Para 1:
“‘Beef or beef products’ includes all edible parts of cattle less than 30 months of age at the time of slaughter and products derived from all edible parts of cattle less than 30 months of age at the time of slaughter as described in the U.S. Federal Meat Inspection Act. However, “beef or beef products” excludes specified risk materials(SRMs); all mechanically recovered meat (MRM)/mechanically separated meat (MSM); and advanced meat recovery product (AMR) from the skull and vertebral column of cattle 30 months of age and over at the time of slaughter. AMR that is free of SRMs and central nervous system tissues (CNS) is allowed. Ground meat, processed products and beef extracts may contain AMR but excludes specified risk materials (SRMs) and all MRMIMSM.”
I can post on and on, but the fact in writing shows there are plenty of restrictions and checks on both the US and Korean side.
It’s not that simple. I belong to Korean Chamber of Commerce in Brazil and know of many korean traders that wanted to import brazilan beef but they could not.
They say that american pressure on korean government to ban beef from other countries is very strong.
If korean consumers had the chance to choose among several suppliers it would be easy to let them choose. Just put american, korean, australian, brazilan, argentinian beefs in the market that they will choose.
Brazilan cow never had mad cow desease.
I think that what disturb the koreans the most in this issue is that people feel like americans are trying to control korean beef market for their own benefit, but koreans has strong sense of independence.
I just regret that america-korea relationship has to be weighted solely on beef issue. There are much more important things between the two countries.
In their self proclaimed 5000 years of history, I think Koreans have had about 60 years of independence. And never in their history has the Korean people earned or fought for their independence.
They were servants of the Chinese, Slaves of the Mongols, slaves of other Koreans, a colony of the Japanese and never once have they fought and won their Independence.
Even today, Korean flock to brain washers like Kim Jong Il and moonie type churches in order not to be independant and to be controlled.
The comments appeared to conflict with the beef deal Seoul signed with Washington last month, under which it agreed not to immediately halt imports if a new case of mad cow disease was discovered in the U.S”
”
You can’t trust these clowns.
hxxp://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gliEd1Bi_qB68ysYSDK2b_vze2ygD90GNCLO0
These guys are bald faced liars. A USKOR FTA will screw America.
…and I have not been able to follow the Korean press closely for some time due to work and school…
So….what do you guys think —- Question:
Can you think of another issue that has come up like this in the past few years?
It seems to me there is a spike in activity, now that Lee and the GNP control the government, especially the Blue House, that we haven’t seen in a few years.
Of course, this fits my theory on Korea’s anti-US habits, which is why I’m asking others for their input.
I can’t think of another time in recent memory where we’ve seen this much activity over such an item.
I think the FTA protest periods were clearly different — in that the press was much quicker and more forceful in criticizing the FTA protesters.
I can’t remember seeing this many articles in the press that gave the negative, anti-US side the platform to speak since perhaps 2003….???
I’ve seen a couple of editorials and some articles sticking more to the facts, but it seems to me there are more of the old-type “news” articles than we have seen for some years —
—–and the protest size the other day was significant - and it involved a significant effort to mobilize middle and high school kids….
….and we got the press quoting pop culture stars too.
I don’t think we got this kind of activity and coverage for the previous FTA periods or anything else in the last few years.
What do you think?
Especially you guys living in Korea who have contact with Korean adults. Does there seem to be a difference in the air these days now that the Blue House is in the hands of the GNP (and thus fears of losing USFK have lessoned with Roh’s departure)….???
On Dr. Yu’s point,
I’m weak in economic areas, and you would know more given your profession, but I question your point because I can think back to how Korea stumbled through the FTA with Chile (I think it was Chile).
This was a few years ago, around the time of the Great Garlic War with China.
Korea stood to gain much in an FTA with Chile by being able to out compete Japanese and other competitors in cell phone and household appliance markets and others due to Korea’s mix of cheaper prices but still good quality.
However, once the FTA hit the Korean news, the society got in a small uproar, and the government quickly said it would renegociate the deal —- just because of competition Korean farmers were going to get in grapes and other fruits and grains from Chile.
In the Great Garlic War, Korea was making a lot of money in chemical and electronics in Korea but due to domestic pressure on Chinese imports of garlic and fish and other such products that were part of a deal the government tried to keep secret, Korean protesters got the government to promise to renegociate again — until Beijing slapped high tarrifs on Korean imports that were selling well - and Seoul quickly backed down (and so did the Korean press).
So, I have my doubts about the idea that the US cattle industry is the primary reason Brazilian beef isn’t freely imported in Korea.
I’m sure the US cattle industry and US politicians friendly too it try to work markets in favor of US beef and not other nations….but I doubt it is a primary reason Korea doesn’t get beef from everywhere else — like from Japan — who has some great beef.
The problem is that Korean society wants to enjoy economic prosperity through exports around the world but doesn’t want to “endure” imports.
When you see Korea haven’t trouble working out deals with both stronger nations (US and China) AND weaker ones (Chile), then Korea is the one with the problem.
I remember at one of the big ASEAN meetings where some major deal was supposed to be struck, Korean protesters, and some in the Korean media, tried to sell the world on the absurd idea that —– Korea should be considered an industrialized nation - and thus given benefits in exports and so on like in the OECD membership —- but should ALSO be considered a “developing” nation in terms of its agricultural economy!!!
Talk about wanting to have your cake and eat it too…
[…] are continuing to voice their opinions of the safety of American beef: Korean-American organizations in New York, Washington and Los […]
I don’t disagree with the US wanting to control the beef market but to protest and spread rumors to stop people from buying cheap beef is just completely stupid. Like I said before if you don’t want it don’t buy it. Let others decide for themselves. Either way I don’t care because I can get all my beef at discount of the korean economy and I know it’s not “Korean Beef”
I’m not either expert in trade or business, but I’m a lawyer and the few things that I know about business I heard from my clients.
Regarding the information on FTA and the garlic war you mentioned in your post, that’s something new for me so thank you for your information.
Now, concerning the USA pressure on Korean government to ban Brazilian beef, that’s what I heard from my clients and from members of Korean government in Brazil like consul, ambassador and KOTRA staffs.
This is like the screen quota system existing in Korea that the USA wants it to be banned. The USA makes pressure on Korea in many ways.
Let’s be frank, there is not reason for Korea to refuse admitting a new beef supplier, because Korea has great interest to find alternative sources of commodity to reduce its dependence on American commodity trading companies like Cargil. Besides it is always good stretching relation with a country like Brazil allowing them to sell in Korean market, since Korea has to import beef anyway.
Actually, what happens in reality is that Korea has no sanitary agreement with Brazil allowing Brazilian companies to sell to Korea.
Brazilian government has been trying to open Korean beef market for years, but so far Korean government just hasn’t shown any sign of interest for their request. The only victory Brazil achieved until now was the opening of Korean chicken market few years ago. Korea had to open the chicken market to Brazil because Korea needed Brazilian approval to be admitted as a member of BID (Inter-American Development Bank).
I think Korea is resisting to open Korean market to Brazil because has fear of American reaction.
Regarding Korea willing to enjoy its prosperity restricting import, isn’t it what all countries in the world desires? That’s a legitimate interest that all countries in the world must pursue (in a fair manner).
Now, I agree in one point with the American guys here: Korea tends to take emotional approach to all matters related to USA and I think that’s not constructive. Actually we have more problematic “partner” like China, which is stealing Korean investment in China and treating us like dogs.
The more I think about their attitudes the more I’m convinced that we should unite to USA, Japan, India, Taiwan and other countries to stop them. Actually I think we should divide China in different small countries since it is a multicultural country. Soon the USA will cease to be the only superpower in the world, and between China and USA, I prefer the USA.
Finally, I think it is a bit unfair demanding Koreans to consume beefs that even Americans are refusing to eat. Would you accept Korea demanding Americans to drive Korean cars with safety problems, which even Koreans would refuse to drive?
I think that the only we have to solve the beef problem definitively in Korea is stopping consuming cows and getting back to dogs. At least Americans would not demand Koreans to import American dog beefs (As far I’m concerned…
Americans haven’t been avoiding beef. We haven’t heard much about Mad Cow in years. It is a non-issue in the American public. Hamburgers are as popular as ever.
If you are finding anything about Americans worried about the country’s beef supply, it must be coming from NGO groups on the fringe of society, because it is not having any significant impact on American consumers.
Replacing cow beef with dog beef will not solve Korean beef problem at all, since it is more likely that china will demand Korea to open Korean dog beef market to them. We are fu…..d anyway …
Spoken like a true Korean. First nobody is DEMANDING you eat it, Koreans still have the right not to eat it. And saying that Americans are refusing to eat it is false. Americans eat the same meat.
“Actually we have more problematic “partner” like China, which is stealing Korean investment in China and treating us like dogs. ”
LOL, the old master is not so nice, to her old servant . That is a shame. Koreans walk around China so arrogantly, now they are reaping what they sewed.
I am looking forward to when Korea returns to the Chinese house, in the servant quarters. China is much more reasonable to deal with then Korea.
Hahahahahahaha… that’s a laugh!
The entire world is in drag because of the retarded chinese such as shattered.