Farmer Fears Mad Cow Disease Following Possible Broader US Imports
October 08, 2025 | Source: The Korea Times | by Ko Dong-hwan
HAPCHEON, South Gyeongsang Province — The owner of a high-profile cow farm in South Gyeongsang Province is opposed to wider imports of U.S. beef.
Byun Jung-il believes that allowing the import of some kinds of American beef would increase the risk of Korean consumers being exposed to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a zoonotic infection also known as mad cow disease. Korea has had a ban on the import of beef from U.S. cows aged 30 months or older in place since 2008, following widespread protests over the safety of such imports.
The Donald Trump administration, amid ongoing tariff negotiations with Korea, is seeking to turn the tables by demanding that Seoul lift the ban. Both countries reached an initial agreement in late July to leave the bilateral livestock trade conditions intact. However, subsequent ministerial meetings between Seoul and Washington suggest that the issue remains on the table.