In a surprising turn of events, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung traded diplomatic talks for drumsticks and jammed to K-pop hits like BTS’s “Dynamite” and K-Pop Demon Hunters’ “Golden”. The impromptu session, a surprise by Takaichi, showcased the leaders’ lighter side, with Takaichi, a heavy metal fan, complimenting Lee’s drumming skills.

Shared by @kantei on Instagram, the clip has clocked 13.6 million views so far.

The video, posted on Takaichi’s office YouTube channel, captures the duo’s infectious energy as they play alongside each other, their tempos slightly off but spirits high. Lee, who learned to play the drums in just minutes, tweeted, “Although our tempos were a bit different, we both tried to match the rhythm together — we will create a future-oriented relationship with one heart”.

This drum session symbolises the growing friendship between Takaichi and Lee, who aim to deepen security and economic ties amidst rising East Asia tensions. As Lee put it, “Just as we respected each other’s differences and found our rhythm together, I hope Korea and Japan can deepen cooperation and take steps closer”.