Lee held an emergency meeting hours after the country confirmed its first outbreak of the animal disease this year at a farm in Anseong, 80 kilometers south of Seoul.

"We need to take measures to prevent the spread of FMD boldly and swiftly in a way that could be even viewed as too excessive," Lee said.

The prime minister called for extra caution as many Koreans will travel nationwide to visit their hometowns for Lunar New Year's Day, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. The traditional lunar new year holiday lasts from Feb. 4-6.

"If we do not take strong action at an early stage, the disease could spread during the holiday," Lee added.

He also called for efforts to vaccinate all animals at farms near Anseong and to preemptively cull animals to prevent further spread of the disease, which affects cloven-hoofed animals such as pigs, goats and deer.

FMD is an acute infectious viral disease of livestock that causes fever followed by the development of vesicles chiefly in the mouth and on the feet. It is one of the most infectious diseases for livestock and can spread rapidly if uncontrolled. (Yonhap)