Critics say Lee Myung-bak and his cabinet responded slowly to the financial crisis, which has struck hard at South Korea and other emerging market nations.

The government removed the last legal barrier keeping American beef imports from store shelves on Thursday, after weeks of demonstrations stoked by fears of mad cow disease.

The government will lift the ban on U.S. beef imports Thursday, after weeks of demonstrations stoked by fears of mad cow disease.

Protests continued despite an accord to restrict beef exports to cattle less than 30 months old to allay fears over mad cow disease.

Protests continued despite an accord to restrict beef exports to cattle less than 30 months old to allay fears over mad cow disease.

President Lee Myung-bak’s government reshuffle is intended to help restore trust, which has been shaken by a deeply unpopular deal on importing American beef.

President Lee Myung-bak’s reshuffle is intended to help restore trust in his government, which has been shaken by a deeply unpopular deal on importing American beef.

An agreement in which the U.S. would not export to South Korea beef from cattle under 30 months old is was sought to defuse South Korean furor over beef exports.

Critics of President Lee Myung-bak said they would continue their protests despite his repeated apologies for a U.S. beef import deal.

Trade envoys from South Korea and the United States broke off talks in Washington, then agreed to resume them, on revising a pact on American beef imports, officials said.