Chinese President Xi Jinping’s landmark visit to South Korea was met by vocal protests in Seoul, where hundreds gathered to denounce Beijing’s influence. Protesters marched through the Hongdae district chanting “China Out” and “protect liberal democracy.”
The rally occurred as President Xi met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju for a state summit. The demonstration proceeded despite a recent crackdown ordered by Lee on anti-Chinese rallies, which he has said are bad for the country’s economy.
The summit itself highlighted the complex relationship. President Lee sought Xi’s help in efforts to restart talks with North Korea, which remains a close ally of China.
At the same time, Lee confronted Xi on several points of friction. These included Chinese sanctions on a South Korean shipbuilder, military activity in Korea’s Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ), and the long-standing shadow ban on South Korean entertainment.
While North Korea flatly rejected Lee’s diplomatic outreach, the summit did yield seven economic agreements between Seoul and Beijing, including a won-yuan currency swap.