By Honorary Reporter Zhao Yadong from China

Due to the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in the beginning of 2020, the world including Korea and China were at their wit's end.

By the end of January, the outbreak had gotten so bad that we had to give up Chinese (Lunar) New Year, the most important holiday for the Chinese people, while our country battled the virus. Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, was hit the hardest and the city went into lockdown on Jan. 23. Other Chinese cities subsequently responded with their own measures, and a lot of people had to spend the long holiday stuck at home.

During this crisis, China and Korea showed great partnership from the government level all the way down to the individual level. The two countries deepened their friendship while going through a shared experience in a difficult time.

How moving it was for the Korean government and its people to be the first to extend a helping hand. President Moon Jae-in sent a letter to President Xi Jinping on Jan. 28 wishing for a speedy recovery and pledging all-out support to China. Later in February, President Moon repeated, "China's suffering is Korea's suffering."

Meanwhile the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent relief goods worth USD 5 million to help contain the spread of COVID-19 to China, as Korea became the first country to send aid to China.

Donations and relief goods from private companies and other individuals came next. Companies like Samsung, Hyundai, SK, Hanmi Pharmaceutical, LG and Amore Pacific donated over RMB 90 million (USD 12.8 million). Former diplomats to China, the director of the Management Institute of China and professors of Chinese studies sent relief goods to Wuhan, joined in their cause by a number of Korean celebrities.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, in a video message sent to Wuhan, said, "Five years ago, when Seoul was struggling due to the MERS outbreak, the city of Beijing and the Chinese government helped us immensely. Now it's time for Seoul to return the favor."

Chinese state-run media reported news of Korea's warm support, and the Chinese people voiced their thanks on Weibo, their country's biggest social media platform. President Moon's words of "China's suffering is Korea's suffering" and the mayor's message particularly attracted a lot of gratitude by the Chinese people.

In Korea, the COVID-19 outbreak was quiet during its first month following the diagnosis of the nation's first patient. The number of patients exploded rapidly after Feb. 19, however. The situation in Korea moved many Chinese, and despite the ongoing battle with the virus at home, the Chinese government at all levels started thinking about ways to support Korea's fight against the coronavirus.

The Chinese Embassy in Seoul sent 25,000 masks to Daegu, the epicenter of Korea's outbreak. The truck that transported the masks had a Chinese saying inscribed -- "Duty is never far from people, and people are no different based on country" -- and a banner encouraging Daegu during its difficult time.

Provincial Chinese governments and Chinese investors in Korea also sent relief goods to Daegu, Incheon and other affected cities.

China and Korea continue to battle COVID-19. It's my hope that the two neighbors will strengthen their cooperation and win this fight against the coronavirus, and in the process, elevate their strategic partnership to an even higher level.

hlee10@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.