S. Korea plans to lift beef ban

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said his government would go forward with a plan to lift restrictions on U.S. beef even in the face of protests

He also said he had been “negligent” in gauging public opinion.

South Korea will have the right to halt U.S. beef imports if needed, Lee said during a speech in Seoul. Lee took responsibility for street protests over the April 18 agreement to lift restrictions on U.S. beef, in place because of concerns about mad-cow disease.

“I humbly accept criticism that the government has been negligent in gauging public sentiment,” he said. “On this point I am very sorry.”

Lee is struggling to quell a backlash over beef imports to keep negotiations on the $29- billion free-trade agreement alive.

South Korea’s biggest opposition party, which has the most seats in the current legislature, had refused to support the trade pact until Lee convinced the public that American beef was safe.