Seoul - South Korea's cabinet and Prime Minister Han Seung Soo offered to resign Tuesday after a government deal to lift a ban on US beef imports led to massive street protests, presidential officials said.

The collective resignation offer by the three-month-old cabinet is unprecedented, according to Yonhap news agency.

A record 1 million people were expected to hold nationwide demonstrations Tuesday night to protest President Lee Myung Bak's decision in April to allow US beef imports despite people's concern about mad cow disease.

President Lee is expected to selectively accept the offers and replace half a dozen ministers involved in the US beef import deal, including Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun and Finance Minister Kang Man-soo, reported Yonhap, citing presidential sources. (dpa)