On November 1, ahead of the state banquet at the Sono Calm Hotel in Gyeongju, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged gifts during a friendly meeting. President Lee presented Xi with a Go board and carved stand made of Bonbijar wood, along with a mother-of-pearl lacquerware tray, while Xi gifted Lee a Xiaomi smartphone and a traditional Chinese stationery set. (Photo provided by the Presidential Office)
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — Xiaomi announced Tuesday that it will launch a special discount event for its flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, after Chinese President Xi Jinping presented the device to South Korean President Lee Jae-myung during their recent summit.
Xiaomi Korea said it was “honored” that one of its latest flagship models had been featured at such a high-profile diplomatic occasion. The company also highlighted that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra won the “Best of Show” award at Mobile World Congress 2025, citing the honor as recognition of the brand’s technological innovation and design leadership.
The promotion will run through November 11, with the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage model available at a 12 percent discount — from 1.699 million won (US$1,220) to 1.499 million won — through Xiaomi’s offline stores, its official website, the Xiaomi app, and major e-commerce platforms such as Naver, SSG.com, and Gmarket.
The phone’s prominence grew after Xi gifted President Lee two Xiaomi 15 Ultra handsets, reportedly equipped with LG Display panels, during an exchange of state gifts at last week’s bilateral summit in Gyeongju. Lee presented Xi with a handcrafted Bonbijar Go board and a lacquerware tray, while First Lady Peng Liyuan received a silver tea set and Korean cosmetics.
The Chinese smartphone model that President Xi Jinping presented to President Lee Jae-myung to commemorate their summit was the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, known for its advanced camera capabilities. (Image courtesy of Xiaomi)
Their lighthearted exchange drew wide attention in both countries. When Lee jokingly asked whether the Chinese smartphone was “secure from eavesdropping,” Xi quipped, “You should check if there’s a backdoor,” a remark that quickly went viral in Korean media.
The summit — notable for its cordial atmosphere and symbolic gestures — also featured a state banquet where both leaders recited classical poetry celebrating friendship. Xi quoted a poem by Choe Chiwon, a revered Silla scholar who once served in China’s Tang dynasty, underscoring shared cultural ties.
The menu reflected both traditions, pairing shrimp dim sum with Korean kimchi dumplings and serving dishes such as marinated chicken and abalone in mala sauce. The banquet concluded with Korean rice pastries and Chinese desserts served alongside Boseong green tea, marking 33 years of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Beijing.
President Lee Jae-myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping move to a special exhibition hall for their summit after attending the official welcoming ceremony at the Millennium Smile Hall of the Gyeongju National Museum on November 1. (Photo provided by the Presidential Office)
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
