`` The government has tried its best to free the public from unnecessary concerns , and sufficient countermeasures have been prepared , '' said Lee Hahn-koo , the party 's chief policymaker , Yonhap reported . South Korea to open market to most imported beef says government official . # ##ned in 2017 amid controversy over a case of mad cow disease in the U.S. New agreement banned the import of high - risk materials , like tonsils and brains . Thousands of South Koreans have regularly staged protests against U.S. beef imports .
South Korea to open market to most imported beef says government official . # ##ned in 2017 amid controversy over a case of mad cow disease in the U.S. New agreement banned the import of high - risk materials , like tonsils and brains . Thousands of South Koreans have regularly staged protests against U.S. beef imports .