Fury at South Korean President Grows

SEOUL, June 10 -- As tens of thousands of people waved candles in central Seoul and other South Korean cities, a month of street demonstrations against the purported danger of U.S. beef broadened Tuesday night into a populist backlash against the country's fledgling president, Lee Myung-bak.

Lee's entire cabinet offered early Tuesday to resign to take responsibility for the beef dispute and to take heat off the president, who has been in office less than four months.

The resignation offer, which Lee did not act on, came in anticipation of what was by far the biggest night of demonstrations against his government.

The crowd in Seoul, chanting "Out with President Lee" and wearing stickers that made Lee look like a rat, included office workers, parents with children, college students and members of labor groups.

"It is too late to soothe the public with lip service, and even fixing the beef issue is too late," said Lee Hong-taek, 33, a gaming software specialist, who joined the protest after work. "The real question is his leadership style."

Police said 70,000 people protested in Seoul, while organizers put the number at 700,000. Local media estimates ranged from 400,000 to 600,000. There were no reports of clashes between protesters and police, as there were in demonstrations this spring.

Despite repeated assurances from Lee's government and the United States, many South Koreans continue to fear that U.S. beef will infect them with mad cow disease.

But people in the streets here are also angry about what they call Lee's arbitrary way of making major decisions, his tone-deaf response to public opinion and his choices of rich and, in some cases, unsavory business leaders for senior position in his government.

"The president must realize that this is a very serious situation," said Kim Hyung-suk, 60, owner of an after-school institute. "If he does not listen even now, then the next step is to demand that he steps down."

Soaring oil prices have also soured the public mood, and truckers voted Monday to go on strike for cheaper fuel, even after Lee's government offered a $10.2 billion package of aid that would provide some subsidies for gasoline and diesel fuel.

The offer by his entire cabinet to resign may give Lee an opportunity to appease populist anger, rebuild his government and recast his image.

The 66-year-old former construction company executive has stumbled badly in his first 107 days in office. After winning election last fall by the largest margin in the country's history, his approval ratings have fallen to less than 20 percent.