South Korea focuses on economic impact of virus

South Korea's president on Monday vowed to focus on saving jobs and protecting the economy amid worries about a possible mass unemployment in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

During a meeting with presidential advisers, President Moon Jae-in said South Korea's economy cannot help being affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Moon said a latest progress in South Korea's anti-virus quarantine campaign is easing the outbreak's economic impact. But the biggest concern, he said, is an employment issue because the number of people seeking unemployment benefits is sharply rising.

Moon sais, "It may be the beginning of pains ... We must work out special countermeasures."