HSINCHU, TAIWAN, May 27, 2003 - United Microelectronics Corporation today announced that it has donated medical supplies to Hsinchu and Tainan area hospitals to help prevent the further spread of the SARS virus. The protective gear will be used by front-line SARS medical workers, who are at greater risk for contracting the disease due to their close proximity with SARS patients. In a related effort, UMC's internal philanthropy team has facilitated the donation of an additional 12,000 N95 facemasks from the direct contributions of UMC employees to be distributed along with the rest of the anti-SARS supplies.

UMC has donated D-class protective suits and standard surgical masks in addition to the employee-donated N95 industrial quality facemasks. All supplies were allocated to various hospitals within three days of the effort's start. Some of the festivities planned for UMC's 23rd birthday last week were also cancelled in favor of using some the supporting funds for the fight against SARS.