(MENAFN) South Korea’s social media platform KakaoTalk is reportedly accessible in China for the first time in 11 years, according to reports. The company stated that it has not received any notification from Chinese authorities regarding the recent change.

The reopening follows a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, South Korea, held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting. This marked Xi’s first visit to South Korea in over a decade.

As of Wednesday, users in China can reportedly send messages, images, and videos via KakaoTalk without relying on a virtual private network. The platform had been blocked in China since July 2014, a move reportedly aimed at preventing the spread of “terrorism-related” content. It remains unclear whether the ban has been permanently lifted.

During the visit, Xi gifted Lee two Xiaomi smartphones and traditional Chinese calligraphy tools. “Is the line secure?” Lee joked while handling the phone. After the interpreter relayed the message, Xi replied: “You can check if there is a backdoor.” Observers highlighted Xi’s remark that the Xiaomi phones contained Korean-made screens, signaling potential for deeper bilateral collaboration.

Xi’s previous visit to South Korea was in 2014 under then-President Park Geun-hye, when relations between the two countries were at a high point. Ties later cooled in 2017 after the US deployed its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system in South Korea.

China and South Korea formally established diplomatic relations in August 1992, with bilateral trade reaching $267.6 billion in 2024.

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