Why are so many high school students gathering at Cheonggyecheon to protest the resumption of US beef imports, which seems hardly an issue to arouse the passion of youth? One possible explanation is the shocking remarks on the blog of a popular TV actress, who said she'd rather "swallow cyanide than eat beef from the United States".

A number of other entertainers have expressed similar opinions on their home pages and on TV shows, and we can only assume that they are doing this because of their pure patriotism and compassion with poor farmers, or perhaps to boost their popularity with their ill-informed young fans. Whatever their motivations, it is highly irresponsible to be speaking like this.

Another group that has jumped on the bandwagon of this largely groundless consumer scare is the anti-Americanism activists who see a great opportunity to enhance their political standing. About 50 groups, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Jeongyojo teachers association, and the Jeonnong farmers' federation, organised the weekend candlelight vigil. The 'Citizens' Cultural Festival' held in Seoul on Saturday to oppose US beef imports was prepared by a 'coalition' of as many as 300 civic groups, most of which have an anti-American theme.

These activists - the same groups which engineered prolonged protests over the 'murder' of two middle school girls in Dongducheon by a US military vehicle in 2002 and the relocation of US forces to the Pyeongtaek area in 2006 - are now eager to defy the pro-American Lee Myung-bak government. How far they will get depends on the reason and conscience of lawmakers and the rest of the nation.