Bush, Lee to dine on US beef

2008-08-05 13:57

Seoul - The US and South Korean presidents will lunch on US beef at the presidential Blue House on Wednesday in an apparent attempt to persuade Koreans that their fears of the product are unfounded.

"US and South Korean beef will be put on the table together," a presidential official told AFP.

US President George W Bush is visiting South Korea after months of mass protests against the planned resumption of US beef imports, which opponents say carries the risk of the human form of mad cow disease.

The protests largely subsided after Seoul secured extra health safeguards on imports from Washington, and the meat is now on sale.

But a few thousand demonstrators gathered in a city centre plaza on Tuesday evening just after Bush touched down for his two-day visit.

The US and South Korean governments say the meat has always been safe.

Dennis Wilder, a top aide to Bush on Asian affairs, told reporters en route to Seoul that US beef is proving popular.

"So while there may be some people who will protest, I think you need to look at what's happening on the supermarket shelves," he said.

- AFP