Japan South Korea summit K-pop drum duet

Published: 14 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A surreal yet carefully choreographed drum duet between the leaders of Japan and South Korea has captured global attention, capping off a high-stakes diplomatic summit with an unexpected burst of pop culture diplomacy. The performance, set to K-pop hits and shared widely online, has been hailed as a powerful symbol of warming ties between two neighbours whose relationship has long been burdened by history, mistrust and regional rivalry.

Dressed in matching blue jackets, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took to the drums on Tuesday, playing along to popular K-pop tracks including BTS’s global smash hit Dynamite and Golden, a song from the blockbuster film KPop Demon Hunters. The performance, light-hearted on the surface, was the closing act of Lee’s official visit to Japan and immediately went viral across social media platforms in both countries and beyond.

For many observers, the moment represented far more than a novelty photo opportunity. It was a carefully chosen gesture designed to humanise diplomacy and signal a renewed commitment to cooperation between two key US allies in an increasingly volatile East Asian security environment. The fact that the leaders were not merely posing for cameras but actively performing together resonated strongly with audiences online.

The drum session also drew on Prime Minister Takaichi’s personal history. Before entering politics, she was a drummer in a heavy metal band, a detail that has occasionally surfaced during her public appearances. According to her later post on X, the idea for the duet was born during a conversation at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last year, when Lee mentioned that it had always been his dream to play the drums. Takaichi said her team decided to surprise him during his visit to her hometown of Nara.

During the visit, Lee presented Takaichi with a drum set as a gift, while the two leaders exchanged signed drumsticks after their performance. Lee later described the drumming as “a little clumsy,” but said the experience was deeply meaningful. His modest self-assessment only seemed to endear him further to viewers, many of whom praised the leaders’ willingness to step outside rigid diplomatic norms.

Footage of the jam session spread rapidly across social media, drawing millions of views within hours. Comments ranged from amused admiration to cautious optimism. One Korean-language post on X noted that music appeared to connect people “at a deeper level than words ever could,” suggesting that such cultural exchanges, though quiet, could help move relations between Korea and Japan forward. Japanese users echoed similar sentiments, with one writing that simply seeing the two leaders genuinely enjoying themselves together mattered more than any formal statement.

The symbolism was particularly striking given the long-standing tensions between South Korea and Japan. Relations have been shaped by painful historical grievances stemming from Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945, as well as disputes over wartime forced labour and territorial claims. These issues have periodically flared into diplomatic crises, most notably in 2019, when South Korea threatened to withdraw from an intelligence-sharing agreement after Japan tightened export controls on key materials.

That episode, triggered by a South Korean court ruling ordering Japanese companies to compensate survivors of wartime forced labour, alarmed both Tokyo and Washington. Japan maintains that the issue was settled by a 1965 treaty normalising relations, while South Korea’s courts have taken a different view. The dispute underscored how quickly historical issues can spill over into security and economic cooperation.

Despite these challenges, Japan and South Korea share a crucial strategic alignment as allies of the United States. Both face growing pressure from China’s expanding military and economic influence, as well as ongoing threats from North Korea’s weapons programmes. Against this backdrop, efforts to stabilise and improve bilateral relations have taken on renewed urgency.

During the summit, Prime Minister Takaichi emphasised the importance of trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea and the United States, noting that heightened tensions in the region’s “strategic environment” made close coordination essential. Economic cooperation was also high on the agenda, particularly as China has tightened controls on exports of rare earths and dual-use goods, creating supply chain vulnerabilities for both countries.

President Lee, who has quickly built a reputation as a charismatic and unconventional diplomat, has pursued an active engagement strategy with regional powers since taking office. His visit to Japan followed a high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where the two leaders took selfies using a Chinese smartphone, a moment that sparked debate back home. Last October, Lee also drew attention during a meeting with US President Donald Trump by presenting him with a large golden crown, a gesture widely interpreted as playful flattery.

These episodes have boosted Lee’s approval ratings domestically, with supporters praising his confidence and adaptability on the world stage. However, his rise to power initially caused unease in Tokyo and Washington. Relatively unknown internationally before his election, Lee was viewed by some as a firebrand with sympathies for socialist economic ideas. There were fears that South Korea might tilt closer to China, its largest trading partner, potentially complicating regional alliances.

So far, those concerns have eased. Since taking office, Lee has walked a diplomatic tightrope, seeking to balance relations with the United States, China and Japan without alienating any side. His approach has been characterised by symbolic gestures, personal rapport and an emphasis on dialogue, even as he maintains firm positions on national interests.

The only regional leader who has remained unmoved by Lee’s overtures is North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang has rejected Lee’s calls for reconciliation and peace talks, and tensions flared again this week after North Korea accused South Korea of flying surveillance drones over its territory, demanding a formal apology. The episode underscored the limits of Lee’s charm offensive and the enduring challenges on the Korean Peninsula.

Against this complex diplomatic backdrop, the drum duet with Prime Minister Takaichi took on added significance. In a post on X following the performance, Lee praised her drumming skills and drew a direct parallel between their musical collaboration and their diplomatic efforts. He wrote that even if their timing had been slightly different, their shared intention to find the same rhythm was what mattered most. In the same spirit, he pledged to continue building a future-oriented relationship between Korea and Japan “with one heart.”

Analysts say the moment reflects a broader shift towards soft-power diplomacy in East Asia, where leaders increasingly use culture, symbolism and personal connection to reinforce strategic goals. While no one suggests that a drum duet can resolve decades-old disputes, many believe such gestures can help create a more constructive atmosphere for addressing difficult issues.

For now, the viral video remains a rare image of levity in a region often defined by tension and rivalry. As comments continue to pour in from across Asia and beyond, the drumbeats from Nara have become a reminder that diplomacy, like music, sometimes depends on finding a shared rhythm, even when the tempo is uneven.