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Thousands of angry South Koreans took to the streets Thursday to denounce their government hours after it said U.S. beef imports would resume within days. About 9,000 people, according to police, gathered downtown for a candlelight rally in front of city hall before marching through nearby streets guarded by anti-riot personnel. We claim the government is ignoring their worries about the safety of U.S. beef. We also accuse President Lee Myung-bak of making too many concessions on beef to gain U.S. congressional approval for a broader bilateral free trade agreement struck last year but that awaits legislative approval in both countries. Police have detained more than 200 protesters, with many subsequently released. There were no reports of clashes or arrests Thursday night. The official notification was made on last Thursday. It replaces the previous standards set by Korea and America in January 2006, which limited imports to boneless beef from cattle under 30 months old. Now it extends imports to include bone-in beef under 30 months old and even meat over 30 months. It should be re-negotiated. If the people living in Korea are exposed to the danger of mad cow disease, the danger might spread to other countries. As a Korean American, I think it should be stopped before the government reports it in the official gazette (expected on June 3rd).