Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung went viral after a post‑summit drumming session in Nara, performing K‑pop tracks including BTS's "Dynamite."
The leaders, wearing matching blue tops, posted clips on X and agreed to deepen cooperation on economic security and regional issues. The encounter comes amid tensions over Takaichi's remarks about a possible response to a China‑Taiwan conflict and ongoing historical grievances between Tokyo and Seoul.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung created a light‑hearted viral moment after their summit in Nara when the pair staged a surprise post‑meeting drum session, performing two K‑pop tracks together.
Both leaders wore matching blue sports tops personalized with their names and shared images and a short clip on X showing Takaichi energetically on the drums while Lee joined in, later admitting he felt "a little awkward" at first but warmed to the rhythm.
Takaichi’s musical background adds color to the encounter: she once drummed in a student heavy‑metal band and wrote on X that when the two met at APEC last year Lee told her playing the drums was a dream, so they prepared a surprise. The pair performed BTS's global hit "Dynamite" and "Golden," from the US Golden Globe‑winning animated film "KPop Demon Hunters."
"It was a little awkward at first, but the more I tapped, the more the sound came together," Lee wrote on X. "We shared the same intention to keep the rhythm even when the beats were slightly different. We will work together with one heart to build a future‑oriented relationship between South Korea and Japan."
Beyond the playful encore, the leaders used the summit to agree on deepening cooperation on economic security and on regional and global issues, according to South Korea's presidential office. Takaichi emphasized that the two Asian neighbours "should cooperate to ensure regional stability." The pair also visited one of Nara's ancient temples before Lee's scheduled departure later the same day.
However, the meeting took place against a tense diplomatic backdrop. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing were strained after Takaichi's November remark suggesting Japan might intervene militarily if China were to attack Taiwan. Historical issues also continue to complicate Tokyo‑Seoul relations: bitter memories of Japan's occupation of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945 still cast a long shadow.
Domestic politics add further context. Lee's conservative predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol — who declared martial law in December 2024 and was later removed from office — had sought to improve ties with Japan. Lee is generally seen as more dovish on North Korea than Yoon and has described the two countries as "neighbours sharing a front yard," underscoring the importance of cooperation amid regional uncertainty.
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