VOA标准英语2008年-S. Korean President Apologizes for Beef Scare H

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
22 May 2008

South Korea's president has become personally involved in damage-control efforts against a public scare about American beef imports.  Althougth he remains¹ critical of his country's panic regarding U.S. beef, Lee Myung-bak has offered a public apology about his government's handling of the issue.  VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin has more.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak told a live nationwide television  audience Thursday, he was sorry for his government's handling of public fears related to American beef imports.

Mr. Lee says the government's efforts to listen to and understand public opinion have been insufficient² and he feels that is deeply regrettable.

The South Korean president cinched a deal with U.S. President George Bush, last month, to gradually resume all imports of U.S. beef.  The imports were banned, five years ago, after an American animal was diagnosed with the fatal brain disease commonly called "mad cow disease."  Doctors say it is theoretically possible, although unlikely, for humans to contract the disease by eating tainted³ beef.

U.S. officials have long asserted that American beef is safe.  They were effectively backed in that view last year by the United Nations World Organization for Animal Health.  Even President Lee's liberal predecessor⁴, Roh Moo-hyun, had promised beef imports would resume once the U.N. body had given that stamp of approval.

Nonetheless, some South Koreans perceive Mr. Lee's promised resumption of beef imports as too speedy and wide-ranging, with too little public consultation⁵.  Thousands of protesters -- mainly young students -- have held frequent candlelight vigils in downtown Seoul, in recent weeks, the content of which has been heavily laced with themes of anger toward Mr. Lee and the United States.

Mr. Lee calls the public gatherings⁶ "heartbreaking."

He says he is responsible for all policy confusion in his new administration.  He promises, from now on, to approach policy with a more humble⁷ attitude toward the people.

The vocal⁸ minority of South Koreans conducting the beef protests have little hard science to back up their concerns of danger from American beef.  Political opponents of President Lee are backing the protests and say they try to block a much broader U.S. trade deal unless the beef imports are renegotiated.  However, they are unable to cite a single confirmed case of human infection from U.S. beef consumption and have, on occasion, used misleading statistics to press their case.

Even as he apologized, President Lee downplayed concerns about American beef.

 He says he is embarrassed at groundless fears of mad cow disease spreading through the country. 

President Lee urged lawmakers to ratify⁹ the wide-ranging free trade agreement signed last year by South Korea and the United States.  The deal would open the two countries' markets in sectors¹⁰ ranging from food to automobiles¹¹.  By some estimates, it would add about $20 billion a year to the two-way trade relationship.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

3 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

5 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

6 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

7 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

8 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

9 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

10 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》