You are mistaken Ran. At current levels the US is paying more than 50 percent of the cost. While Korea is increasing its contribution its more around 41% currently. I think the money better spent to expand korea's ability to self defense and let the US troops go home, would save everyone billions

Kristina Jensen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Above all the things, before we refer to the relationship between two countries, plz think about human being's right to be eaten propery. What would be more important at all? Government which can't protect their people is absolutely useless.

mani, Seoul, Korea

Last year there was a 13 billion USD trade imbalance with S. Korea. Korea employs a huge non-tarrif barrier to maintain the imbalance (much like the chinese manipulate their currency for the same ends). The protest is ignorant in that it assumes all US beef is risky, and it isn't.

Kristina Jensen, Copenhagen, Denmark

US spends billion to defend Korea, But Korea spend more billion to buy a weapon from US.. Unbalanced trade? You didn't count that S.Korea going to U.S to study etc. But, US didn't come to S.Korea that much. Korean spent huge money in U.S. than U.S. in S.Korea. and trade. get real.

kylime, Pusan, S.Korea

I just know two things. 1. S. Korea government pays all the expense related to US army in S. Korea. 2. As a US soldier in S.Korea, you won't be punished by law if you rape a S. Korean girl.
Now does everybody know why US soldiers don't want to be off?

Ran, York, UK

Kristina
sorry, a big objection 4 u.
International trade isn't always about capital. It is also related with the politics. Therefore, Retaliation is not the solution. Give me just one reason why those protests are ignorant. Koreans have to eat US beef cos US does a lot for them? now that's wrong

Hugh, London, UK

Pull US troops out of South Korea - why should US soldiers be on the front line for a nation that doesn't want them there

Scott Anderson, Brighton, uk

The US want to import beef which even they don't eat! US is just eating beef which is under 20 months and want to sell their garbage which is over 20month to Korea. Do we look like a waste disposal site?

Nanse Rhee, Seoul, Korea

I don't really understand americans here getting upset. You don't want to eat beef from cattle older than 25 months, why should korean? why don't you go and check in your own country what kind of beef you're offered at stores. If they want safer meat let them just have it, don't contaminate all asia

Nik, KL, Malaysia

Don't blame us. See what kind of beef you eats now. Japan, EU and other countries don't import some US beef products, which we have to import unconditionally. Accordingly any case of mad cow disease from US beef never deters US beef to Korea. If GIs want to leave Korea, do it. It's helpful to us.

Peter Kim, Seoul, Korea

Umm, don't you think millions of people protesting US Beef imports might just imply that our beef is not safe to eat?

Robert, Williamsport, USA

It is really funny that what I read from here, Particularly I am a South Korean myself. The US favors Lee's administration because it gives everything to please the US. As being a part of conservative sect, President Lee himself think as a part of Bush's partner, not an independent leader.

K.W. Park, Kingsville, TX, USA

Jill,
May be the South American drug lords would like to use the same argument..."if Americans don't want to but our drugs, they can just boycott them when they hit the streets, no one is forcing them to buy"

The point is Koreans do not want to be poisoned by suspect American beef.

Rory Wiltshire, Seoul, Korea

The issue is not really about US. Koreans are very sensitive to food issues. Koreans have no problem consuming food from all over the world. This is why you never see any anti-US slogans in these protests.
The issue is really about Lee Myung Bak and his policies.

Sungjoo, Daejeon, Korea

Nope. We are over there for our interest, not at the request of S. Korea. Bases in Japan and S. Korea just act as Pentagon's check against China and Russia.

And besides, it's one of the biggest buyers for U.S. arms industry spending billions, if not trillions, of dollars each year.

Dan, New York, NY

Surely it would greatly benefit the USA to terminate its relationship with almost every country on Earth. A minority of these countries would, in truth, probably benefit also; Most would simply implode.

Eric Skelton, Cardiff, Wales

The USA does not occupy Korea. We have troops there at the request of S. Korea to deter N. Korea from any aggressive acts. If S.Korea doesn't want the protection we'll bring them home. If S. Koreans don't want US beef - they can boycott it when it hits the stores. Nobody's forcing them to buy it.

Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Good for you Korea!
The USA continues to occupy your land, killing many civilians each year.
Lee loves the USA so much, that he wants Korea to go back to the Park days.
Korea is a wonderful country, yearning for peace with the North, and a positive relationship with China to benefit all its people!

jason, boston, usa

The US spends billions to defend Korea, loses billions in unbalanced trade with Korea (costing more American jobs) and now has to suffer ignorant protests. Americans need to start holding elected officials accountable for selling out their economy. I think the wrong the country is protesting.

Kristina Jensen, Copenhagen, Denmark