South Korea to open market to most U.S. beef says government official . The move comes as the United States and other countries are trying to reduce trade barriers with China over Beijing's alleged theft of intellectual property from American companies. Thousands of S. Koreans have regularly staged protests against U.S. beef imports .
South Korea to open market to most U.S. beef says government official . Ban began in 2003 amid concerns over a case of mad cow disease in the U.S. New agreement bans the import of high-risk materials , like tonsils and brains . Thousands of S. Koreans have regularly staged protests against U.S. beef imports .