Japanese PM, South Korean President steal spotlight in K-pop drum performance: 'Rare sight'

Leaders hit the drums in Tokyo for a playful K-pop jam. (Image credit: @Jaemyung_Lee/X)

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung surprised onlookers after their formal talks with a spontaneous drum jam to K-pop hits in Tokyo. The video of two world leaders' unexpected high-energy performance stole the spotlight, leaving everyone entertained.

The clip captures Sanae Takaichi and Lee Jae Myung drumming to Golden from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters and BTS’s global chart-topper Dynamite. The impromptu jamming session took place at the end of their summit meeting on Tuesday.

Ditching their formal attire, the world leaders donned matching blue tracksuits, highlighting the playful connection between them.

Taking to X, PM Lee Jae Myung described the moment as ‘awkward’ and ‘meaningful’. “A joint performance with Prime Minister Takaichi, where we layered a common harmony over each of our individual rhythms. At first, it felt a bit awkward, but as we kept playing, the sounds came together as one,” he wrote.

He added that playing has been a long dream that he cherished.

Just as we respected each other's differences and found our rhythm together, I hope that Korea and Japan, too, can deepen their cooperation and take steps closer to each other," he said.

Japan, South Korea leaders drum up viral moment.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi played two K-pop songs during a post-summit drumming session with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who joked he felt "a little awkward" in front of the former heavy metal band member… pic.twitter.com/x2rqBc4UzR — AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 14, 2026

The meeting took place amid Japan-China tension after Takaichi’s suggestion in November that Japan might act militarily if China attacks Taiwan. Later, the leaders visited Japan’s century-old temples in Nara.

The video of the leaders drumming together quickly went viral on the internet, with people praising it and calling it a rare glimpse of friendly diplomacy.