For the first time in more than a decade, Chinese President Xi Jinping set foot on South Korean soil, marking a momentous occasion that sent ripples through diplomatic, business, and cultural circles across Asia. The visit, which took place in early November 2025 during the Apec summit in the historic city of Gyeongju, was rich with symbolism and not without its share of surprises—some lighthearted, others heavy with economic and political implications.
Xi’s arrival was met with a mixture of anticipation and cautious optimism, especially among South Korea’s entertainment industry leaders. Since 2016, South Korean films, television shows, and K-pop music had been subject to an unofficial boycott by China. The move, which followed South Korea’s approval of the US Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile system, had been a devastating blow. Beijing considered the deployment a security threat, and the subsequent freeze in cultural exports saw revenues for South Korean entertainment firms plummet—from a staggering US$781.79 billion in 2016 to just US$135.55 billion the following year, as reported by the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange and cited by the South China Morning Post.
Against this backdrop, Xi’s visit was closely watched for any sign that the cultural embargo might be coming to an end. Hopes soared when South Korean lawmaker Kim Young-bae revealed that Xi had responded positively to a proposal for a South Korean performance in Beijing. Kim took to social media to express his optimism, writing, “I hope that this will be the moment when the door opens to full-fledged K-culture advancement beyond the lifting of the THAAD ban.” The market responded in kind—share prices for major South Korean entertainment companies surged in the wake of the news.
But while the mood was buoyant, official bodies urged restraint. The scars of the past nine years run deep, and many industry veterans remain wary of counting their chickens before they hatch. Still, the signals were hard to ignore. During the summit, South Korea’s national broadcaster KBS inked a memorandum of understanding with China Media Group, the state-run media conglomerate that includes China’s powerful CCTV. The agreement, while not a formal end to the boycott, was interpreted by many as a step toward normalization of cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Yet, it wasn’t just policy and economics that captured the public’s attention. The summit also delivered a rare, unscripted moment between the two leaders that quickly went viral and offered a glimpse into the evolving personal dynamics at the highest levels of power. During a state banquet, Xi presented South Korean President Lee Jae Myung with two Xiaomi smartphones equipped with Korean-made displays—a gesture meant to highlight technological cooperation. Lee, known for his quick wit, seized the opportunity to lighten the mood. Holding up the gifts, he quipped, “Is the communication line secure?”
For a leader who is seldom seen joking in public, Xi’s reaction was unexpected. With a smile, he shot back, “You should check if there is a backdoor,” referencing the ongoing international debate over the security of Chinese smartphones and the potential for pre-installed software that could allow third-party monitoring. The exchange, captured by TV cameras and widely reported by the Guardian and Seoul Shinmun, drew laughter and applause from those in attendance—and soon, from viewers across South Korea.
The United States has long warned its allies about the risks of so-called ‘backdoors’ in Chinese technology, cautioning that such vulnerabilities could be exploited by hackers and foreign intelligence services. China, for its part, has consistently denied allegations of cyber espionage, insisting that its devices are as secure as any on the global market. The Xi-Lee exchange, while playful, touched on a subject that remains deeply sensitive and politically charged on both sides of the Pacific.
South Korean media outlets seized on the moment, with Seoul Shinmun running the headline, “Xi bursts into laughter after Lee jokes about security of Xiaomi Phones.” Online, the clip found a second life, with one YouTube user likening the encounter to “martial arts masters trading lines in a duel.” It was, as many observers noted, a rare window into Xi’s lighter side. According to Lee’s spokesperson, Kim Nam-joon, the levity was a testament to the rapport the two leaders had built over the course of the summit. “From welcoming ceremonies and gift exchanges to a banquet and cultural performances, both leaders had multiple opportunities to engage and build personal chemistry,” Kim explained. “If it weren’t for such chemistry, that kind of joke would not have been possible.”
Gift-giving, a staple of diplomatic protocol, was in full swing. While Xi presented the Xiaomi smartphones, Lee reciprocated with a hand-carved Go board and a mother-of-pearl tray—items chosen for their cultural significance. Xi, himself an avid Go player, described the board as “exquisite,” according to South Korean media reports. The exchange underscored the leaders’ shared appreciation for the ancient strategy game, as well as their willingness to find common ground amid ongoing tensions.
The summit also provided a platform for broader discussions on biotechnology and the future of human longevity. In a separate, off-camera conversation at a recent Chinese military parade, Xi was overheard discussing organ transplants and the possibility of humans living to 150 years old with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. While these remarks were not made in South Korea, their resurfacing in the media added another layer of intrigue to Xi’s public persona during his visit.
Back in Seoul, the entertainment industry is watching closely. The unofficial boycott has left deep scars, but the recent flurry of diplomatic activity has rekindled hopes for a renaissance of K-culture in China. The memorandum of understanding between KBS and China Media Group is seen as a harbinger of better days ahead, even if concrete policy changes have yet to materialize. For now, industry leaders, policymakers, and fans alike are holding their breath, waiting to see if this historic visit will indeed mark the beginning of a new era in Sino-Korean relations—or if, as some caution, it’s simply another chapter in a long, complicated story.
Whatever the outcome, Xi’s visit to South Korea in 2025 will be remembered not just for its diplomatic significance, but for the moments of humanity and humor that briefly bridged the gap between two powerful neighbors. In a region often defined by rivalry and suspicion, those fleeting flashes of camaraderie may prove to be as important as any official agreement.
