Acting President Goh Kun has met a group of foreign business leaders operating in South Korea.

Thursday's luncheon meeting with the foreign CEOs was part of the government's efforts to reassure the markets and international investors that the current political instability will not trouble the investment environment.

Mr. Goh said he is confident that South Korea will overcome the impeachment turmoil as the nation has a history of overcoming far worse situations, including the 1997 foreign currency crisis. He also asked for their continued investment in local businesses.

During the meeting, Commerce Minister Lee Hee-beon said the government would increase the proportion of foreign direct investments in the gross domestic product to 14 percent by 2012 as in other members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The foreign CEOs, in turn, asked the government to create an investment-friendly environment by bringing local regulations up to global standards and rooting out corrupt practices.