South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung posted a smiling selfie with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and their wives taken on a Xiaomi smartphone Xi had gifted him, reviving a light‑hearted moment from a previous summit.
"A selfie with President Xi Jinping and his wife, taken with the Xiaomi I received as a gift in Gyeongju," Lee wrote on X, adding: "Thanks to them, I got the shot of a lifetime. I will communicate more frequently and collaborate more closely going forward."
Light Banter Over Security
The handset first attracted attention in November, when Xi quipped to Lee on the sidelines of an APEC meeting that Lee should "check if there is a backdoor" — a reference to preinstalled software that could, in theory, allow outside monitoring. The exchange stood out as an unusually playful moment from Xi, who rarely makes public jokes; Lee later said Xi was "unexpectedly quite good at making jokes."
Moment Captured And Shared
Lee's office also posted a short YouTube clip of the photo moment, in which Xi compliments Lee's camera skills. The image and clip were widely shared online, with the post receiving thousands of re‑shares within hours and sparking humorous comments about the phone's provenance.
Diplomatic Context
The selfie came during a ninety‑minute summit in Beijing where Xi urged Lee to align with Beijing in making the "right strategic choices" as global tensions rise. Lee's visit follows a period of heightened international friction, including a recent controversial US operation in Caracas that drew condemnation from Beijing and Pyongyang.
Since taking office in June after his predecessor's impeachment and removal, Lee has prioritized repairing ties with China after years of diplomatic strain. The selfie — an informal, viral moment — underscored both leaders' efforts at public diplomacy and the sometimes unexpected human touches that accompany high‑level talks.
