South Korea announced plans to ban those suspected of being infected with Middle East respiratory syndrome from leaving the country amid mounting criticism over the government's botched initial response to the often-fatal disease.

Kwon Joon-wook, chief of the central MERS management headquarters, told a news briefing on Monday that the Justice Ministry's immigration office will take limited measures toward those who need to be quarantined.

As of Monday, 682 South Koreans had been isolated and observed on suspicion of possible MERS infection as they had close contact with those known to have had the disease.