The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing for foreign diplomats here on South Korea’s fight against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. (image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 8 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean government assured foreign diplomats here Monday that it is making every effort to bring the outbreak of a viral respiratory illness under control.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing for foreign diplomats here on South Korea’s fight against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
“The strong determination of the Korean government to combat this disease… further strengthened my belief that Korea will successfully overcome this disease in the near future,” Deputy Minister for Overseas Koreans Lee Key-cheol said at the outset of the meeting, citing pan-governmental efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Only the first few minutes of the closed-door session were open to media organizations.
More than 100 diplomats from 79 nations, along with some members of seven international organizations here, attended the briefing, in which a senior official from the Ministry of Health & Welfare and a professor from a local university hospital provided relevant details.
It was largely intended to give accurate information on the MERS virus and South Korea’s response to its outbreak.
“There have been growing worries in the international community over the spread of MERS in South Korea. The number of foreign tourists has decreased,” a Foreign Ministry official told reporters on background. “In that sense, today’s briefing was very meaningful.”
Participants asked many questions about the disease including the exact infection routes and whether they have to cancel scheduled diplomatic events, he added.
“A participant requested a call center for foreign residents,” the official said. “The government is positively considering the measure.”
The government has often informed foreign diplomats of policies on inter-Korean relations, economy, and other issues. But it’s unusual to hold such a briefing on an infectious disease.
South Korean officials are struggling to limit the negative impact of MERS on the national image.
(Yonhap)
