Hyundai workers strike over US beef imports to SKorea

SEOUL – Tens of thousands of South Korean auto workers went on strike yesterday to oppose resumed US beef imports and the pro-business policies of new President Lee Myung-bak, joining anti-government protests that have raged for weeks.

The walkout came a day after US beef returned to South Korean store shelves for the first time under a much-criticized import deal with Washington, although the sale was limited to one store run by a US beef importer. “US beef is selling like hotcakes,” said Park Chang-gyu, owner of the A-Meat store in Seoul, adding that about 400 kilograms of meat was sold on Tuesday.He said anti-US beef protesters held a demonstration in front of the store yesterday, causing sales to be halted for about three hours.Prime Minister Han Seung-soo was one of the first customers, buying 12 kilograms from the store.”I had American beef together with my grandson and other family members yesterday,” Han’s office quoted him as saying during a meeting with a local religious leader.”It was nice and tasted good.”The walkout by car workers was part of a one-day strike by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to protest US beef imports and economic reform proposals by Lee, who took office in February.The strike was expected to cost the automakers about US$40,4 million in lost production of 2 900 vehicles, a Hyundai spokesman, Jake Jang, said.The KCTU said about 130 000 of its 600 000 members were expected to join the strike, including workers at textile and chemical factories.”This is not a political strike, but a strike that is aimed at protecting our right to health,” KCTU leader Lee Suk-haeng told reporters.”We want to live long and healthily.”Lee said his group plans to launch a nationwide consumer campaign to boycott American beef.US beef imports to South Korea have been largely banned since 2003, when the first case of mad cow disease was discovered in the United States.Nampa-AP”US beef is selling like hotcakes,” said Park Chang-gyu, owner of the A-Meat store in Seoul, adding that about 400 kilograms of meat was sold on Tuesday.He said anti-US beef protesters held a demonstration in front of the store yesterday, causing sales to be halted for about three hours.Prime Minister Han Seung-soo was one of the first customers, buying 12 kilograms from the store.”I had American beef together with my grandson and other family members yesterday,” Han’s office quoted him as saying during a meeting with a local religious leader.”It was nice and tasted good.”The walkout by car workers was part of a one-day strike by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to protest US beef imports and economic reform proposals by Lee, who took office in February.The strike was expected to cost the automakers about US$40,4 million in lost production of 2 900 vehicles, a Hyundai spokesman, Jake Jang, said.The KCTU said about 130 000 of its 600 000 members were expected to join the strike, including workers at textile and chemical factories.”This is not a political strike, but a strike that is aimed at protecting our right to health,” KCTU leader Lee Suk-haeng told reporters.”We want to live long and healthily.”Lee said his group plans to launch a nationwide consumer campaign to boycott American beef.US beef imports to South Korea have been largely banned since 2003, when the first case of mad cow disease was discovered in the United States.Nampa-AP