President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi added an unexpected personal note to their summit on Jan. 13, briefly setting aside protocol for an impromptu drum duet that playfully displayed warming ties between Seoul and Tokyo.
Taking place after a joint news conference, the jam session saw the two leaders sitting behind matching drum kits in matching blue tracksuits. They played recent K-pop hits, including BTS’ “Dynamite” and “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters,” on six-piece sets made by Japanese manufacturer Pearl. Takaichi, a longtime heavy metal fan who played drums in a college band, took the lead, guiding Lee through the rhythms.
Takaichi said she planned the moment after learning of Lee’s long-held wish to play the drums. Lee called the experience the fulfillment of a childhood dream, later comparing the duet to bilateral relations and expressing hope that the two countries could grow closer by finding a shared rhythm despite differences.
The lighthearted exchange capped talks that also produced concrete outcomes, including agreement to pursue DNA testing to help identify victims of the 1942 Chosei coal mine disaster, a painful legacy of Japan’s colonial rule. Both leaders emphasized building a stronger relationship amid shifting regional dynamics.