I'll be updating this later - and I meant to create an entry earlier - but I wanted to at least make people aware of the protesting over the resumption over American beef to South Korea.

Over the last couple of weeks demonstrations have been ramped up, especially this past weekend. And by "ramped up", I mean in the neighborhood of 50,000 people filling the streets of Seoul. Since U.S. bases and military personnel are a direct representation of the American government, there's a little bit of unease over whether the protesting will shift from being directed at the South Korean government and move toward our bases.

Prime Minister Han Seung-soo - along with the rest of the South Korean cabinet - has just offered to resign. I've asked some of the Korean nationals who work with us what they think about the American beef dispute, and they've said President Lee Myung-bak shouldn't be "playing with the lives of Koreans." Many Koreans are convinced that American beef will kill them if they eat it because our safety regulations aren't up to standard.

Now, I have no idea about whether American beef regulations are on par with South Korea - or whether we are inferior or superior, for that matter - or whether this entire dispute is over something different entirely and beef importation is the only way for Koreans to express their displeasure, but the entire situation is interesting to watch up close.

UPDATE [11 JUNE 2008]: Here's a link from CNN on the protesting last night. Note the candlelight vigil. I have no idea why this is popular in South Korea - I'll ask a Korean national - but Koreans enjoy holding candles during some protests. I'm not sure if it's mourning - as it would be associated with in the West - or what.

UPDATE [13 JUNE 2008]: And a link from the Seattle Times (republished from The New York Times):

This is a small country in a strategic location with a deep sense of grievance about being manipulated by the great powers around it. Chinese emperors demanded tribute from Korea; Japanese occupiers forbade Koreans to speak their own language; American, Chinese and Russian Cold War rivalries divided Korea in two. While mostly approving of their alliance with the U.S., South Koreans remain acutely sensitive to any suggestion that they must do America's bidding.

And then this is also a hot topic, as the anniversary is this weekend:

When two South Korean teenage girls were killed by an American military armored vehicle six years ago, it first appeared to be nothing more than a tragic traffic accident. But many young Koreans who had grown to regard the American military presence with humiliation rallied in protest.