Today's Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2012

1. LIVESTOCK ISSUES

“Stopping of Beef Imports from the U.S. Should Not Happen just for Fear of Candle Light Protests”, Korean Ag. Minister Y.G. Seo [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/Economy/3/01/20120530/46611146/1

Summary: Y.G. Seo, the minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food said in a press interview on May 24  that stopping of the import inspections or placing a ban on American beef should not happen just for fear of candle light protests.  In the interview recognizing the upcoming one year anniversary (June 2) of serving the minister position, Mr. Seo criticized the party that led the recent candle light protests against American beef.  Mr. Seo pointed out that the argument of the anti-American beef party was based on no scientific evidence but was simply politics-oriented.  Mr. Seo added that the fact that the recent candle light protests had not expanded further indicates that Korean consumers had a balanced view on the issue.

2. MARKETING ISSUES

The U.S. Got Surprised as Tunas Caught in the U.S. Sea Tested Positive for ‘Hukusima Cesium’ [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/Inter/3/02/20120530/46611860/1

Summary: According to a joint research between Stanford University and New York State University Stonybrook, tunas caught in the west coast sea of the United States in August last year tested positive for a higher level of cesium than regular level, indicating that the radioactive material leaked from the nuclear power plants in Hukusima Japan did traveled to the U.S. sea and contaminated the fishery resources to some level.  American government officials and industries have claimed so far in response to the nuclear accident in Japan that local fishery resources are safe from the radioactive risk.