(Adnkronos) – It was an unusual – and in some ways irreverent – drum duet between the leaders of Japan and South Korea that concluded the bilateral summit between the two countries: a sign of détente – also on social media – between two nations whose relations remain historically difficult due to the unresolved Japanese colonial legacy on the Korean peninsula. Dressed in matching blue jackets, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi played K-pop songs together, including the global hits “Dynamite” by BTS and “Golden” from the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters. The performance also confirmed what had only been rumored until now: Takaichi’s past as a drummer in a heavy metal band. The duet concluded Lee’s official visit to Japan.
The video of the performance, which Lee himself described as “a bit clumsy,” quickly went viral on social media, often a battleground for users from the two countries. In Nara, the Prime Minister’s hometown, Lee gifted Takaichi a drum kit, and the two leaders exchanged autographed drumsticks. “When we met at APEC last year, Lee said he dreamed of playing the drums, so we prepared a surprise,” Takaichi recounted on X. Numerous users – cited by the BBC – praised the gesture, emphasizing how “music has the power to unite hearts more than words.”
Despite persistent historical and territorial issues, Japan and South Korea remain allies of the United States and cooperate to counter China’s rise in the region. Takaichi – who clashed with Beijing in recent weeks over her statements on Taiwan – reiterated that trilateral cooperation between Tokyo, Seoul, and Washington is “increasingly important” in the changed strategic context. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, also in light of Chinese restrictions on exports of rare earths and dual-use goods. Lee praised the Prime Minister’s musical skills on X: “Even if our timing was slightly different, the will to find the same rhythm was shared.”
