South Korea's Lee posts Xi selfie taken on gifted Xiaomi phone

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has shared selfies with Chinese President Xi Jinping taken on a smartphone Xi previously gifted him, during Lee’s visit to Beijing. Lee posted the photos on X and said the images included both leaders and their wives.

Lee said the pictures were shot on a Xiaomi handset he received as a present from Xi last year. He described the moment as a once-in-a-lifetime shot and signalled interest in maintaining more frequent communication and closer coordination going forward.

The phone drew attention months earlier when Xi joked about the possibility of surveillance capabilities, suggesting Lee should check whether the device had any hidden access points. The remark was viewed as an unusually light moment for Xi.

The selfie post drew heavy online engagement and was shared thousands of times, including jokes referencing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Lee’s visit also followed the US operation in Caracas that captured Maduro and transferred him to the United States to face charges—an action condemned by Beijing and Pyongyang.

Lee, who took office in June after his predecessor was removed following an impeachment process tied to a martial law declaration, has been working to repair ties with China after years of strained relations.