Justin Trudeau, 1.88m tall, posed casually to match the height of South Korean lawmaker Kim Jin-pyo, 20cm shorter
An unusual move by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has divided opinion in the international press. During a diplomatic visit to South Korea on Wednesday (5/17), the 1.88m Canadian spread his legs to match the height of National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo for official photos .
Trudeau’s gesture was a response to Kim, who earlier had stood on her tiptoes, mocking the 20cm height difference between the two leaders. The Canadian prime minister then bowed and then spread his legs in a move known in South Korea as “way legs”, designed precisely to level the height between two people.
The South Korean press hailed the gesture, calling the scene “touching”. Broadcaster YTN said Trudeau had a “caring mentality”. But the action was not viewed favorably by Canadians. True North slammed the prime minister, saying at the meeting some of Trudeau’s compatriots accused him of “another embarrassment to Canada abroad.”
The Canadian delegation traveled to South Korea ahead of G7 summit engagements in Hiroshima, Japan, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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