The MERS scare is also affecting the job market here in Korea, especially the retail, food and hotel sectors,... which had been adding jobs until the outbreak began.
Statistics Korea says these industries added an average 138-thousand new jobs each month from January to May this year, compared to the same time last year.
However, the MERS outbreak has weakened consumer sentiment and people are spending less time outside.
According to the Korea Foodservice Industry Research Institute, restaurants saw an over 38 percent decrease in sales last week compared to two weeks ago.
Department store sales also dropped more than 16 percent in the first week of June compared to last year.
Although job numbers have yet to be collected, officials says part-time employment in those sectors will likely decrease in line with weak sales.
