First U.S. beef arrives in S. Korea after ban

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) - The first shipment of U.S. beef under a controversial import deal arrived in South Korea on Tuesday, state media reported.

The resumption of U.S. beef imports follows a nearly five-year ban after a case of mad cow disease turned up in the United States. It also comes in the midst of continuing public concern over it.

Tens of thousands of people in South Korea have protested the South Korean government's decision to resume beef imports from the United States.

The initial shipment of 1.5 tons of ribs and other bone-in cuts arrived by plane at Incheon International Airport, said Nerp Corporation, a Seoul-based meat importer. The beef will be under quarantine for about 10 days for testing before it can be sold.