A surprise drum session between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has gone viral on social media. Both of them dressed in matching blue jackets, the leaders played drums to K-pop hits, including “Dynamite” by BTS and “Golden” from K-pop Demon Hunters, wrapping up Lee’s official visit to Japan. The performance, staged in Nara, Takaichi’s hometown, followed formal talks on security cooperation, supply chains and regional stability.
What is drumstick diplomacy?
‘Drumstick diplomacy’ refers to the use of music and performance as a tool of statecraft, where symbolism and shared experience are used to convey political intent beyond formal language. The duet was rooted in personal history. Takaichi, a self-confessed former metal band drummer, planned the surprise after Lee told her at last year’s APEC summit that playing the drums had been a lifelong dream.
“When we met at APEC last year, [Lee] said it was his dream to play the drums, so we prepared a surprise,” Takaichi wrote on X. Lee later described the session as “a little clumsy,” adding that the challenge of keeping up with the beats and embracing the moment as symbolic rather than performative perfection.
Agenda of the summit
Beyond the viral moment, the summit discussed major concerns of both the countries. Leaders emphasised the growing importance of cooperation between Japan, South Korea and the United States amid rising regional tensions and China’s tightening controls on rare earths and dual-use goods.
Takaichi said cooperation among the three had become increasingly important given the region’s changing “strategic environment,” and Lee framed the duet as an analogy for diplomacy itself.
“Even if our timing was slightly different, our intention to find the same rhythm was shared,” he wrote on X. “In that same spirit, we will continue to build a future-oriented Korea–Japan relationship together, with one heart.”
The drum session fits into Lee’s broader diplomatic style, which has leaned on personal rapport. From selfies with China’s Xi Jinping to a golden crown gifted to US President Donald Trump, Lee has shown a knack for memorable gestures that travel well beyond meeting rooms.