One of South Korea’s most powerful business groups has donated 5,000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to Taiwan. The Federation of Korean Industries delivered the tests to Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Monday via South Korea’s representative to Taiwan, Chung Byung-won.
The federation acts as a lobbying group for South Korea’s biggest businesses, including Samsung, Hyundai and LG.
Chung says that though the amount of test kits donated is not substantial, the gesture is symbolic of Taiwan and South Korea’s strong relationship.
South Korea is Taiwan’s fifth largest trading partner, and the two countries exchanged goods and services worth more than US$50 billion last year.
Chung says that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought Taiwan and South Korea closer to each other. He says that he hopes the donation will foster closer ties between the two countries, while helping Taiwan to tackle its current wave of COVID infections and return to normal life.