A diplomatic meeting between the Japanese and South Koreans took a surprising musical turn after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung were spotted playing drums together in an impromptu performance.
Videos of the moment have gone viral on social media websites, with the two world leaders drumming together at the end of their summit on Tuesday.
In the viral video, the leaders are seen dancing along to popular numbers such as Golden from the Netflix K-POP web drama Demon Hunters and BTS’s international hit Dynamite. This low-key performance left the group’s fans surprised but excited.
The unusual music session took place at a time when the formal negotiations had already been completed and gave a behind-the-scenes look.
Later, President Lee reflected on the incident through a translated social media post, saying the performance was “symbolic.”
“A joint performance with Prime Minister Takaichi where we layered a joint harmony over each of our individual rhythms,” he wrote. “It was a little awkward at first, but as we played on, the sounds came together.
He also revealed that playing drums has long been a personal desire. “Playing the drums has long been a dream I cherished, so the time was all the more grateful for the Prime Minister’s thoughtful consideration.
Music beyond diplomacy
Lee said the session helped the two leaders connect on a personal level beyond official discussions.
“Thanks to the Prime Minister, we were able to share a special time and exchange honest feelings through music,” he wrote. He drew a parallel with bilateral relations, adding: “Just as we have respected each other’s differences and found a common rhythm, I hope that Korea and Japan can deepen their cooperation and take steps closer together.”
Prime Minister Takaichi echoed similar sentiments in her own translated post, revealing that the drumming was planned as a surprise.
“When we met at the APEC summit last year, he mentioned that his dream was to play the drums, so I prepared a surprise for him,” she wrote.
She confirmed that the two leads performed Golden, the recent Golden Globe winner for Best Original Song, and Dynamite by BTS. “President Lee said he was delighted to fulfill his longtime dream of playing the drums.”
A rare moment of warmth shared online
The clip has since been widely shared on social media platforms, with many users calling it a rare display of warmth, spontaneity and cultural connection in international diplomacy.
