South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday apologized to the public for his government's handling of a US beef import deal which sparked strong protests.

"I should have paid attention to what people want," said Lee in a nationally televised statement, "I and my government will acutely reflect on this."

Lee said his government will secure a firm US government guarantee to prohibit American private exporters from sending beef from cattle older than 30 months to South Korea in an effort to address public fears over mad cow disease.

South Korea and the United States reached an agreement on April 18 for resumption of imports of US beef from cattle of all ages despite growing concerns over mad cow disease. The deal has triggered protests of tens of thousands people in recent days.

Faced with street rallies and candlelight vigils against the beef deal that rocked South Korea for the past month, Lee is scheduled to announce a major reshuffling of his aides at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae and the Cabinet, whose members have already offered to resign.

South Korean negotiators are meeting US officials in Washington to try to revise the pact in order to secure extra safeguards against mad cow disease.

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2008)