Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan asked foreign leaders in Korea to refrain themselves from being swayed by the outbreak of the Middle East respiratory syndrome, confident in the government’s ability to gain control over the virus.

Choi, as the nation’s acting prime minister, Friday convened a luncheon meeting with representatives of the World Health Organization and ambassadors of the United States, China, Japan and Russia to Korea, to assure them that South Korea will be able to handle the MERS outbreak.

“Looking back to the past, South Korea has effectively dealt with outbreaks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, known as SARS, as well as Influenza A,” Choi told the foreign attendees.

“We assure you with confidence that Korea has enough capacity and experience to swiftly overcome the MERS fiasco,” he added.

The luncheon meeting was arranged about three weeks after MERS landed on the peninsular country on May 20. Since then, it has claimed the lives of 11 and infected 126, with an additional some 3,680 people under quarantine as of Thursday.

The acting prime minister asked the heads of the chambers of commerce of the United States, European Union, Japan, China, Germany and France, to report any suspected patients of MERS.

Choi also told the attendees that the relevant embassies in Korea would be immediately updated as to MERS patients and suspected patients of a foreign nationality.

On the same day, the South Korean government launched a 24-hour telephone hotline center, exclusively for foreigners in Korea, at 109.

Choi ensured that the government will give speedy feedback on all the latest developments of the MERS outbreak, and make its utmost efforts to stop the spread of MERS this week.

In addition, Choi called for the foreign leaders’ cooperation to minimize the economic damage from the virus. According to government data, 400 billion won ($360 million) has been earmarked to help tourism and retail businesses and local economies that have been stricken hard by the respiratory disease.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)