Xi Jinping's Smartphone Gift to South Korean President Sparks Humor About Cybersecurity

China's President Xi Jinping and South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung exchanged gifts during their meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

During their encounter in Gyeongju, Xi Jinping made a surprising joke about surveillance when presenting two Xiaomi smartphones to South Korea's President Lee. The Chinese leader suggested Lee should "check if there is a backdoor" in the devices, referring to potential hidden monitoring software.

The humorous exchange began when Xi presented the smartphones, which featured Korean-made displays, to President Lee. Lee responded with his own jest, asking "Is the communication line secure?" This prompted laughter from Xi.

Xi's unexpected quip about backdoors elicited both laughter and applause from President Lee and attendees. The exchange marked a rare moment of humor from the Chinese leader, especially regarding such a sensitive topic as espionage.

The interaction quickly became headline news across South Korean media outlets. "Xi bursts into laughter after Lee jokes about security of Xiaomi Phones," reported the Seoul Shinmun daily on Monday, highlighting the unusual nature of the exchange.

The moment gained significant traction online as well. One YouTube video of the exchange garnered over 800 comments, with many viewers expressing surprise at Xi's willingness to joke. One commenter with the username 021835 compared it to "martial arts masters trading lines in a duel."

According to Lee's spokesman Kim Nam-joon, this moment of levity reflected the growing rapport between the two leaders after multiple interactions over two days. "From welcoming ceremonies and gift exchanges to a banquet and cultural performances, both leaders had multiple opportunities to engage and build personal chemistry," Kim told AFP.

He added, "If it weren't for such chemistry, that kind of joke would not have been possible."

The visit marked Xi's first trip to South Korea in more than a decade, making this diplomatic exchange particularly noteworthy.

When asked whether President Lee would actually use the gifted phones, Kim stated it was a possibility. "While nothing has been decided, he could use the phone," he said, noting that the handsets were presented for both Lee and his wife.