British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Mistakenly Shakes Hands with Korean President's Translator at G7 Summit.
G7 Summit: Newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer experienced a minor gaffe during the G7 Summit in Canada. He mistakenly shook hands with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's interpreter instead of the President himself. The confusion lasted only a few seconds, but the moment was captured by media cameras given the international setting. Despite this, both leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthening UK-South Korea relations.
An Awkward Yet Interesting Moment at the G7 Summit
An awkward yet interesting situation unfolded at the ongoing G7 Summit in Canada when British Prime Minister Keir Starmer mistakenly shook hands with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's translator instead of the President.
The incident occurred as both leaders arrived for a formal meeting. Upon entering the room, Starmer extended his hand to the person standing in front of him, who turned out to be the interpreter, not the President. Realizing his mistake, he quickly turned to President Lee, who was standing behind, and formally greeted him.
Downing Street Dismissing Reports of a "Handshaking Fiasco"
Following the incident, Downing Street, the British Prime Minister's office, dismissed the reports as "misreporting." A government spokesperson stated that the Prime Minister respectfully greeted all members of the South Korean delegation and that any "fiasco" was being exaggerated. However, video footage clearly shows the Prime Minister initially shaking hands with the translator before moving towards President Lee.
Both Countries Pledge to Further Strengthen Relations
Despite the brief confusion, the meeting remained positive. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, "South Korea is a vital partner, and we seek to deepen our relationship in defense, trade, and innovation."
He also explicitly mentioned the need for updates to the existing Free Trade Agreement between Britain and Korea, stating that both countries would work towards this. President Lee Jae-myung also expressed a desire to modernize the partnership with Britain and stated that Korea is looking forward to greater cooperation with Britain in technological and economic fields.
The Meeting Took Place Under the Outreach Program
This meeting was part of the G7 Summit's "outreach segment," which specifically invited South Korea, India, and several other countries.
The aim of this program is to increase cooperation between developed and developing nations, particularly regarding global challenges such as climate change, economic instability, and technological innovation. President Lee Jae-myung's participation marked his first attendance at such a large multilateral meeting at this level, making the encounter significant for him as well.
