Reading Material: Intriguing G7 Leaders' Whispered Exchange

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Reading Material: Intriguing G7 Leaders' Whispered Exchange

Date: June 19, 2025

Introduction

This article discusses a tense exchange between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the G7 summit in Canada. The article describes their hushed conversation and Meloni's increasingly frustrated facial expressions, suggesting a clash between the two leaders on various diplomatic and social issues.

Vocabulary

Korean Romanization Meaning Example
굳더니 guddeoni to become stiff, rigid 얼굴 점점 굳더니 눈알 굴렸다 (His face gradually became stiff, and he rolled his eyes.)
눈알 nunnal eyeball 얼굴 점점 굳더니 눈알 굴렸다 (His face gradually became stiff, and he rolled his eyes.)
귓속말 gwitsokmal whisper, hushed conversation G7 정상회의에서 조르자 멜로니 이탈리아 총리와 에마뉘엘 마크롱 프랑스 대통령이 귓속말을 주고받는 장면이 화제다. (A scene of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanging whispers at the G7 summit has become a hot topic.)
주먹으로 jumgeumeuro with one's fist 마크롱 대통령은 다른 사람이 대화를 눈치채지 못하도록 주먹으로 자기 입을 가렸다. (President Macron covered his mouth with his fist so that others would not notice the conversation.)
상반신 sangbanshin upper body 멜로니 총리는 상반신을 마크롱 대통령 쪽으로 기울인 채 그의 말을 경청했다. (Prime Minister Meloni leaned her upper body towards President Macron and listened to him attentively.)
치켜뜨고 chikkeotteuggo to open wide (eyes) 그러나 이어지는 말에 점차 표정이 굳어지며 눈을 치켜뜨고 짜증스러운 듯 시선을 위로 돌리는 장면이 포착됐다. (However, as the conversation continued, her expression gradually became stiff, and she opened her eyes wide and looked up, seemingly annoyed.)
짜증스러운 jjaeungseuroun annoyed, irritated 그러나 이어지는 말에 점차 표정이 굳어지며 눈을 치켜뜨고 짜증스러운 듯 시선을 위로 돌리는 장면이 포착됐다. (However, as the conversation continued, her expression gradually became stiff, and she opened her eyes wide and looked up, seemingly annoyed.)
마찰 machal friction, conflict 우크라이나 문제에 있어서는 마크롱 대통령이 독일, 영국, 폴란드 등과 별도 협의체를 구성하면서 이탈리아를 배제해 마찰이 빚어지기도 했다. (Regarding the Ukraine issue, President Macron formed a separate consultative group with Germany, the UK, and Poland, excluding Italy, which caused friction.)

Reading Text

사진 엑스 캡처 캐나다 주요 7개국(G7) 정상회의에서 조르자 멜로니 이탈리아 총리와 에마뉘엘 마크롱 프랑스 대통령이 귓속말을 주고받는 장면이 화제다.

The scene of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron exchanging whispers at the G7 summit in Canada has become a hot topic.

마크롱 대통령은 다른 사람이 대화를 눈치채지 못하도록 주먹으로 자기 입을 가렸고 멜로니 총리는 상반신을 마크롱 대통령 쪽으로 기울인 채 그의 말을 경청했다.

President Macron covered his mouth with his fist so that others would not notice the conversation, and Prime Minister Meloni leaned her upper body towards President Macron and listened to him attentively.

그러나 이어지는 말에 점차 표정이 굳어지며 눈을 치켜뜨고 짜증스러운 듯 시선을 위로 돌리는 장면이 포착됐다.

However, as the conversation continued, her expression gradually became stiff, and she opened her eyes wide and looked up, seemingly annoyed.

두 정상이 어떤 대화를 나눴는지는 공개되지 않았으나 SNS에서는 이 장면이 양측 간 불화의 또 다른 신호라는 해석이 잇따랐다고 르피가로는 전했다.

The content of the conversation between the two leaders was not disclosed, but according to Le Figaro, social media users interpreted this scene as another sign of discord between the two sides.

양국 정상은 멜로니 총리가 2022년 10월 집권한 이후 외교·사회적 현안에서 자주 충돌해 왔다.

Since Meloni became prime minister in October 2022, the two leaders have often clashed on diplomatic and social issues.

우크라이나 문제에 있어서는 마크롱 대통령이 독일, 영국, 폴란드 등과 별도 협의체를 구성하면서 이탈리아를 배제해 마찰이 빚어지기도 했다.

Regarding the Ukraine issue, President Macron formed a separate consultative group with Germany, the UK, and Poland, excluding Italy, which caused friction.

한 네티즌은 두 정상의 귓속말 장면에 도널드 트럼프 미국 대통령이 포착되자 "멜로니, 이리 와봐"라는 반응을 보였다.

One netizen, upon seeing former US President Donald Trump in the scene of the two leaders' whispered conversation, responded, "Meloni, come over here."

Grammar Points

-(으)ㄴ 채(로) while (remaining in a state)

Attached to a verb stem to mean 'while remaining in the state of having done ~'. Here: 'while leaning her upper body toward Macron'.

📖 멜로니 총리는 상반신을 마크롱 대통령 쪽으로 기울인 채 그의 말을 경청했다. Prime Minister Meloni listened to his words while keeping her upper body leaned toward President Macron.

✏️ 그는 신발을 신은 채로 집 안으로 들어왔다. He came inside the house while still wearing his shoes.

-아/어지다 become (change of state)

Attached to a verb/adjective stem to express a change of state ('become ~'). Here: '표정이 굳어지다' = 'one's expression becomes stiff/hardened'.

📖 그러나 이어지는 말에 점차 표정이 굳어지며 눈을 치켜뜨고 짜증스러운 듯 시선을 위로 돌리는 장면이 포착됐다. However, as the conversation continued, her expression gradually hardened, and a scene was captured of her rolling her eyes upward as if annoyed.

✏️ 날씨가 점점 따뜻해지고 있어요. The weather is gradually becoming warmer.

Cultural Notes

The tense exchange between Macron and Meloni reflects the ongoing diplomatic and political tensions between France and Italy, two major European powers. The exclusion of Italy from Macron's separate consultative group on the Ukraine issue highlights the power dynamics and rivalries within the EU. The appearance of former US President Trump in the scene also adds an interesting geopolitical dimension, hinting at potential behind-the-scenes maneuvering and alliances.

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📝 Comprehension Questions

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Q1

What was the main topic of the hushed conversation between Macron and Meloni at the G7 summit?

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Q2

How did Macron and Meloni try to conceal their conversation from others?

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Q3

How did Meloni's facial expression and body language change as the conversation progressed?

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Q4

What were some of the past conflicts between Macron and Meloni mentioned in the article?

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Q5

What was the netizen's reaction to seeing former US President Trump in the scene of Macron and Meloni's conversation?

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