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Interesting development, Korea is investing $600m in Ecuador to improve trade and tourism ties. https://twitter.com/CancilleriaEc/status/1333210515695341568
The two countries' foreign ministers this week discussed cooperation on trade and coronavirus efforts, amid a forum in Seoul to promote cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20201125001125
The $600m will include $200m to build an airport in Manta, Manabi province, which the Korea Airports Corp will then operate. Manta is a gorgeous beach getaway and the province makes lots of bananas, Ecuador's no. 2 export after petroleum. https://www.primicias.ec/noticias/economia/ecuador-no-reembolsables-corea-sur/
Ecuador has the 7th largest nominal GDP in Latin America, and it can really use the help in terms of COVID. Back in May, it had one of the worst death rates in the world. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/world/americas/ecuador-deaths-coronavirus.html
There's also a decent-sized Korean community in Ecuador, including the late great singer Jinsop, who was born in Seoul, later moved to Ecuador and learned to sing Spanish before he could speak it.
In 1972, Jinsop and his mom put on a music festival, won 1st prize but fled after the crowd set the stage on fire bc they wanted The Apostles to win. Jinsop was arrested, but days later he joined The Apostles! After the album Puppy Love, he was a star.
Final note, Jinsop moved to the US before finally moving back to Ecuador and settling in the beach town of Ayangue, where he died (just south of Manta).
