South Korea's president replaced three ministers Monday amid the fallout from a much-criticized U.S. beef import deal, but left his Cabinet largely intact despite their offer to resign to stem weeks of anti-government protests.
Lee Myung-bak has been under intense fire over an April agreement to resume imports of U.S. beef. The deal has led to near-daily street rallies over perceptions the country could be exposed to mad cow disease, and the demonstrations have grown to include opponents of the conservative Lee's pro-business policies.
The shakeup was aimed at "making a new start" while giving other Cabinet members another chance, presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said.
