- By Shailvee Tiwari
- Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Japan PM And South Korean President Viral Video: No one expected music to steal the spotlight at a serious political meeting, but that’s exactly what happened. A formal summit between Japan and South Korea suddenly turned into a joyful, viral moment that left the internet smiling. At the end of their meeting on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung surprised everyone by sitting down for an unplanned drum session. Instead of speeches and handshakes, the two leaders picked up drumsticks and played along to popular tracks like Golden from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters and BTS’s hit song Dynamite.
The unexpected performance was caught on camera, and the video quickly spread online. Viewers were amused, surprised, and impressed to see world leaders bonding over K-pop beats.
Watch The Viral Video:
Takaichi she is cool!
— Ibex (@Umberto92494946) January 14, 2026
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and President Lee Jae Myung found harmony after a summit through a drum session. Lee once told Takaichi drumming was a long-held dream. pic.twitter.com/d6JaDxnn8V
A Moment That Felt Awkward - Then Beautiful:
Later, President Lee shared his thoughts about the experience in a post on X. He described the session as meaningful, even if it felt a little uncomfortable at first. "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 also revealed that playing the drums had always been close to his heart. "Drum playing has long been a dream I've cherished, so the time was all the more grateful for the prime minister's thoughtful consideration."
More Than Just Music:
For Lee, the drum session was more than a fun break: it was a way to connect beyond official talks. "Thanks to the prime minister, we were able to share a special time exchanging sincere feelings through music," he wrote. Comparing the moment to international relations, he added, "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."
Watch The Post:
각자의 박자 위에 공동의 화음을 더했던 다카이치 총리(@takaichi_sanae)님과의 합주.
— 이재명 (@Jaemyung_Lee) January 13, 2026
처음엔 조금 어색했지만, 두드릴수록 소리는 하나로 모였습니다.
드럼 연주는 오래전부터 품어온 로망이었기에, 세심하게 배려해 주신 총리님의 마음이 더욱 감사했던 시간입니다.
총리님 덕분에 음악을 통해… pic.twitter.com/TVKhi2JBhA
A Surprise Planned In Advance:
Prime Minister Takaichi also spoke about the moment in her own translated post, sharing that the idea had been carefully planned. "When we met at the APEC summit last year, he had mentioned that his dream was to play the drums, so I prepared a surprise for him," she wrote.
Internet Can’t Get Enough:
The cheerful clip has since gone viral, with many calling it a rare and refreshing scene in global politics. In a world used to stiff diplomacy, this light-hearted drum session showed how a simple moment of music can build connection.
ALSO READ: How BTS Songs Connected The World To Stories Born In Korea | The Bangtan Beat
"Wow… This is so so cool! Didn’t know she was in a heavy metal band. Looks like Lee is having a Fan-boy moment," a user wrote. "Looks like she enjoys drumming with a communist president. That’s insane," a second user wrote. "Mr. President, you playing the drums is seriously so cute lololol. Seeing you syncing rhythms with the Prime Minister makes me think Japan-Korea relations will really work out great, too. My mood's been up since this morning! Thank you," wrote a third user.
