In a rare moment of levity, Chinese President Xi Jinping drew laughter from both delegations when he joked about spying on South Korean President Lee Jae Myung while presenting him with a pair of smartphones. The light-hearted exchange, which took place in the historic city of Gyeongju on Saturday (Nov 1), quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of Xi’s visit — his first to South Korea in more than a decade.
The exchange occurred during a formal gift ceremony on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where both leaders traded symbolic presents. Xi presented Lee with two Xiaomi smartphones fitted with Korean-made displays, a nod to the growing technological collaboration between the two nations.
Upon receiving the gifts, President Lee smiled and asked playfully, “Is the communication line secure?” The question, delivered with a grin, elicited laughter from Xi, who pointed at the phones and replied, “You should check if there is a backdoor.”
The crowd of aides, officials, and photographers reportedly broke into laughter and applause at Xi’s response — a moment of humor that stood out for a leader widely known for his reserved demeanor.
President Xi is seldom seen joking in public, particularly about sensitive subjects such as technology and surveillance — topics that often sit at the heart of global debates surrounding China’s tech giants. As such, his quip quickly went viral in South Korea, where both the public and media seized on the rare glimpse of Xi’s lighter side.
“Xi bursts into laughter after Lee jokes about security of Xiaomi phones,” read a headline in Seoul Shinmun on Monday. Another newspaper described the scene as “a fleeting but revealing moment of personal rapport between two leaders navigating a complex relationship.”
A video clip of the exchange uploaded to YouTube garnered thousands of views and more than 800 comments within hours. “It feels like martial arts masters trading lines in a duel,” one user wrote, while others speculated that the exchange reflected a thawing of relations between Seoul and Beijing after years of diplomatic strain.
Lee’s spokesman Kim Nam-joon confirmed that the two leaders appeared to have struck a friendly chord over the course of Xi’s two-day visit.
“From welcoming ceremonies and gift exchanges to a banquet and cultural performances, both leaders had multiple opportunities to engage and build personal chemistry,” Kim said. “If it weren’t for such chemistry, that kind of joke would not have been possible.”
Xi’s visit to Gyeongju was widely interpreted as an attempt to recalibrate China-South Korea relations, which have been tested in recent years by Seoul’s growing security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Despite differences over regional security issues — including North Korea’s nuclear program and tensions in the Taiwan Strait — both leaders sought to highlight common ground in trade, culture, and technology.
The exchange of gifts also carried symbolic weight. The Xiaomi smartphones — Chinese-made but equipped with Korean displays — were seen as representing a potential model of economic complementarity rather than competition. President Lee, in turn, presented Xi with a set of traditional Korean ceramics, known for their craftsmanship and cultural significance.
When asked whether President Lee intended to use the Xiaomi phones, Kim Nam-joon said that “nothing has been decided,” but added that it was possible. “The phones were presented for the President and the First Lady,” he said.
While the moment was clearly lighthearted, analysts noted that it subtly touched on one of the most politically charged issues in global technology — trust and data security. The mention of a “backdoor,” referring to hidden software that could allow unauthorized access or surveillance, has been at the center of international scrutiny over Chinese-made electronics.
In recent years, several Western countries have imposed restrictions on Chinese tech firms, citing security concerns. South Korea, while maintaining open trade with China, has faced similar debates about cybersecurity and dependence on Chinese technology.
Yet, for many South Koreans, the Gyeongju exchange seemed to symbolize a more human side to diplomacy. “It was refreshing to see both leaders share a laugh,” JoongAng Ilbo wrote in an editorial. “At a time when international politics often feels tense and scripted, such moments of candidness can go a long way.”
