The Democratic Labor Party claims that the beef could be tainted by mad cow disease, and that the government's safety measures are insufficient to ensure public safety.

The party said it would raise about 100 million won (US$107,000; €83,000) to purchase the entire first shipment of nine tons of U.S. beef, which arrived in South Korea on Oct. 30.

The shipment is undergoing health inspections and could go on the market as early as this weekend.

"We should never import American beef that has the danger of mad cow disease," said Rep. Kang Ki-kap, a farmer-turned lawmaker, at a press conference launching the campaign.

The party, an outspoken opponent of U.S. foreign policy, said it would contact the meat importer, but it was unclear if the importer would agree to sell.

South Korea shut its doors to U.S. beef imports in December 2003 after the first reported U.S. case of mad cow disease. The country was the third-largest foreign market for American beef before the ban.

Source: iht.com