South Korea | Seng Calls for Less Emotional Approach to Beef Access Issue | U...
South Korea
Seng Calls for Less Emotional Approach to Beef Access Issue
USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng met today (Feb. 22) in Seoul with South Korean consumer media to call for a more rational approach to beef import inspections by government officials.
The media briefing for South Korea’s largest newspaper dailies and most influential television broadcasters was part of USMEF Korea’s public affairs effort to educate Koreans about the safety of U.S. beef and to counter criticism of U.S. beef during the product’s absence from the market. Ten selected reporters, including those from JoonAng Ilbo, characterized as Korea’s most prestigious and influential dailies, and KBS, the largest public service TV broadcaster in Korea, attended the briefing.
Seng appealed for media, consumers and government officials to invoke the Korean scholarly tradition of analyzing the science rather than acting on the emotions of the moment. After being asked repeatedly about U.S. plans to pressure Korea into resuming U.S. beef imports, Seng noted U.S. exporters have experienced commercial frustration in their attempts to export to Korea. He said the United States was asking Korea to “rationalize, not relax” its import conditions under the current boneless beef agreement. Seng also explained that an expected World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) decision this May on the risk level of BSE in the United States would likely provide greater confidence to consumers worldwide on the safety of consuming all U.S. beef products.
In addition to public concerns about U.S. beef safety, there is fresh media attention on the potential impact of resumed U.S. beef imports on local cattle farmers. Seng said domestic beef was held in high regard, and that Korean cattle farmers should “promote rather than protect” their beef products.
During the visit to Seoul, USMEF also met with other Korean opinion leaders, including executives from domestic free trade agreement (FTA) support groups. Seng said “it’s a challenging environment for U.S. beef at the moment; a significant percentage of the population opposes the FTA and opposition groups are utilizing U.S. beef as a symbol of U.S. pressure.” As evidence of the current charged atmosphere, Seng’s briefing was slightly delayed by protesters from an anti-FTA non-government organization, the Korean Peasants League.
South Korea
Seng Calls for Less Emotional Approach to Beef Access Issue
USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng met today (Feb. 22) in Seoul with South Korean consumer media to call for a more rational approach to beef import inspections by government officials.
The media briefing for South Korea’s largest newspaper dailies and most influential television broadcasters was part of USMEF Korea’s public affairs effort to educate Koreans about the safety of U.S. beef and to counter criticism of U.S. beef during the product’s absence from the market. Ten selected reporters, including those from JoonAng Ilbo, characterized as Korea’s most prestigious and influential dailies, and KBS, the largest public service TV broadcaster in Korea, attended the briefing.
Seng appealed for media, consumers and government officials to invoke the Korean scholarly tradition of analyzing the science rather than acting on the emotions of the moment. After being asked repeatedly about U.S. plans to pressure Korea into resuming U.S. beef imports, Seng noted U.S. exporters have experienced commercial frustration in their attempts to export to Korea. He said the United States was asking Korea to “rationalize, not relax” its import conditions under the current boneless beef agreement. Seng also explained that an expected World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) decision this May on the risk level of BSE in the United States would likely provide greater confidence to consumers worldwide on the safety of consuming all U.S. beef products.
In addition to public concerns about U.S. beef safety, there is fresh media attention on the potential impact of resumed U.S. beef imports on local cattle farmers. Seng said domestic beef was held in high regard, and that Korean cattle farmers should “promote rather than protect” their beef products.
During the visit to Seoul, USMEF also met with other Korean opinion leaders, including executives from domestic free trade agreement (FTA) support groups. Seng said “it’s a challenging environment for U.S. beef at the moment; a significant percentage of the population opposes the FTA and opposition groups are utilizing U.S. beef as a symbol of U.S. pressure.” As evidence of the current charged atmosphere, Seng’s briefing was slightly delayed by protesters from an anti-FTA non-government organization, the Korean Peasants League.