South Korea, Japan Leaders Strike Cordial Note with Surprise Drumming Session

January 15, 2026 | 07:50 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In an unexpected display of warmth, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appeared strikingly cordial as they closed out a key bilateral summit with a lighthearted drumming session.

Following talks in Nara, Japan, Takaichi’s hometown, the two leaders were seen seated behind matching drum kits, dressed in coordinated blue sports tops personalized with their names, as they played along to Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters track “Golden” and BTS’ “Dynamite.”

The drumming session itself was a carefully considered surprise from Takaichi, who recalled Lee’s offhand remark during their first meeting in Gyeongju that learning to play the drums had been a lifelong dream, The Guardian shared. 

A former drummer in a university heavy metal band, Takaichi praised Lee’s quick progress, saying in a video posted to her office’s YouTube channel that “the president learned to play the drums in just five, 10 minutes.” 

Lee, for his part, acknowledged the disparity in experience with characteristic self-awareness, writing on Tuesday that “although our tempos were a bit different, we both tried to match the rhythm together,” adding that the moment reflected a desire to “create a future-oriented relationship with one heart.”

Behind the playful optics, the summit carried significant diplomatic weight. According to South Korea’s presidential office, Lee and Takaichi agreed during talks to strengthen cooperation on economic security as well as regional and global issues, with Takaichi emphasizing that the Asian neighbors “should cooperate to ensure regional stability.” 

The meeting took place against the backdrop of Japan’s increasingly tense relations with China, following Takaichi’s November remarks suggesting Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan, as per France24. Lee underscored the urgency of closer ties, saying cooperation between the two U.S. allies “is more important than ever.”

Read: Japan, South Korea Vow Stronger Ties Amid China Challenge

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