South Korean and Japanese Leaders Perform K-Pop Drum Duo After Summit, Using “Golden” and “Dynamite” to Symbolize Friendship

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myeong performed a drum duo to K-Pop songs following their summit. During the summit held in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan, on the 13th (local time), the two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation before engaging in this unexpected cultural exchange.

At a session organized by Takaichi in Nara on the 11th, the leaders wore custom workout outfits and sat side by side to play drums to popular K-Pop tracks such as BTS’s “Dynamite” and the song “Golden” from the Netflix film *KPop Demon Hunters*. A short video posted by Takaichi’s office on her official X account on the 12th (local time) showed the two leaders holding drumsticks and playing together.

This drum session was arranged at Takaichi’s request, as she is a heavy metal fan and was a drummer in college. In a post on X, Takaichi explained, “When we met at APEC, [President Lee] said that playing drums had been her dream for a long time, so I prepared this as a surprise gift.” She also gave a drum set to President Lee during the summit.

President Lee posted on X saying, “Playing drums had been my dream for a long time, and I am grateful to Prime Minister Takaichi for helping me make it a reality.” She added, “Just as we respected each other’s differences and found rhythm while playing, I hope South Korea and Japan will deepen cooperation and gradually get closer.” She humbly noted that her own playing might have been “a bit clumsy.”

Takaichi praised President Lee’s learning speed, describing her as a “fast learner who mastered the drum rhythm in just a few minutes.” On X, she stated, “To develop bilateral relations between Japan and South Korea in a proactive and stable manner, close communication between our governments will continue, and we will actively pursue ‘shuttle diplomacy’ through these efforts.”

This video gained widespread attention on social media. South Korean netizens commented, “Music has the power to connect hearts at a deeper level than words. It is a quiet yet meaningful exchange that can advance relations between South Korea and Japan.” Japanese netizens also expressed agreement, saying, “It’s really enjoyable to see them playing drums in person. Although both South Korea and Japan are facing difficult situations, meeting in the middle seems certain to lead things in a positive direction.”

Although South Korea and Japan have long-standing emotional tensions stemming from Japan’s colonial rule and territorial disputes, both are allies of the United States and have collaborated to counter China’s growing influence in the region. Takaichi emphasized in a statement that “as the current ‘strategic environment’ in the region becomes more tense, cooperation among Japan, South Korea, and the United States is becoming increasingly important.” The two countries also agreed to strengthen economic cooperation.