South Korea lowered its 2015 economic growth outlook to 3.1 percent Thursday, citing slumping exports and the negative impact of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak on Asia's fourth-largest economy.

The revised estimate represents a drop from the 3.8 percent gain predicted late last year and is lower than the 3.3 percent growth reached in 2014. For 2016, the finance ministry predicted the economy will grow 3.5 percent.

The latest prediction is on par with a forecast made by the Bank of Korea in April and marginally higher than the 3 percent forecast made by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Announcing its second-half economy management plan, the ministry attributed the downgrade to the sluggishness of exports and consumer spending, the country's key growth engines.

South Korea's exports contracted 5.7 percent on-year in the first five months of 2015. Consumer spending has been hit hard by the unexpected outbreak of MERS after showing budding signs of recovery recently.

"There are factors that can push up growth, including low interest rates that can reduce debt burden, but anticipated U.S. rate hikes and the MERS scare are adding to downside risks," the ministry said. "The MERS outbreak could pare 0.2 to 0.3 percentage point off annual economic growth."

To counter such developments, the government is moving to inject more than 15 trillion won ($13.5 billion) into the economy by asking parliament for an extra budget and by utilizing various state-run funds.

The exact size of the supplementary budget will be determined after more consultation with lawmakers. The extra money will make it possible for the government to push for expansionary policy measures, inject sufficient capital into the market and implement programs to help create jobs.

The economy's rebound in the second half will hinge on the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to quickly contain the respiratory illness that was first confirmed on May 20, it said.

As of early Thursday, South Korea had 180 confirmed MERS cases with the death toll rising to 29 and more than 2,600 people in isolation as a precautionary measure.

"There is a possibility that consumer spending may rebound relatively swiftly once the MERS scare subsides, although the services sector in general will require more time to make a full recovery," said Lee Chan-woo, director general of the economic policy bureau.

He said the government will keep close tabs on rising household debt and encourage corporate restructuring that could reduce risks to the economy down the line. 

"Moreover, measures will be taken to push forward sweeping reforms in labor, finance, the public sector and education," the official said. "Such reforms are critical for South Korea's sustainable growth."

The ministry expected the country's consumer prices to grow just 0.7 percent on-year in 2015, down from a previous estimate of 2 percent, saying that consumer inflation will likely reach 1.3 percent in 2016.

Private consumption is projected to rise 2.1 percent on-year in 2015, with corporate capital spending and construction investment likely to advance 5.6 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively.

On employment, the ministry forecast some 400,000 new jobs will be created this year, down from its earlier estimate of 450,000, with the number expected to reach 430,000 next year.

The ministry also predicted the country's current account surplus to widen to US$94 billion this year from $89.2 billion in 2014 as imports fall more sharply than exports. The ministry had earlier forecast a surplus of $82 billion for 2015.

South Korea's exports are expected to contract 1.5 percent on-year in 2015, with imports likely to drop 7 percent due to a sharp drop in global commodities prices, the ministry said.

For 2016, the ministry predicted that exports will likely grow 5.4 percent on-year with imports rising 8.3 percent, resulting in a current account surplus of $88 billion. (Yonhap)