Japan, South Korea leaders drum up viral moment with K-pop jamListen to this articleSouth Korea's President Lee Jae Myung, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi playing drums, in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. "Following the summit I played drums with President Lee Jae Myung," Takaichi, who used to drum in a student heavy metal band, said in her X post. "We will work together with one heart to build a future-oriented relationship between South Korea and Japan." The leaders visited one of Japan's oldest temples in Nara on Wednesday morning. Lee, relatively more dovish towards North Korea than was Yoon, has said that South Korea and Japan are like "neighbours sharing a front yard".

Source: Bangkok Post January 14, 2026 15:56 UTC