A beautiful trickle of voices! South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol concluded his visit to the White House on Wednesday with some vocalizations, which did not fail to arouse the admiration of his counterpart, Joe Biden. At a dinner in his honor, after much more serious bilateral discussions promising, among other things, the "end" of the North Korean regime in the event of a nuclear attack on US allies, Yoon Suk-yeol shared his passion for American music.

"We know it's one of your favorite songs, American Pie," Joe Biden says, taking his guest on stage to listen up close to artists playing this Don McLean ballad. "Yes, that's right," says Yoon Suk-yeol, known in South Korea for being a karaoke buff, admitting to being a fan of the song since its release in 1971, when he was still in school.


South Korean President Yoon surprises the crowd at the White House state dinner by singing what he said was one of his favorite songs, "American Pie""

I had no damn idea you could sing," Biden says pic.twitter.com/u2Pwn3g12x

— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) April 27, 2023

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"We want to hear you sing it," tries his American host. Yoon doesn't really offer resistance and takes the microphone: "It's been a long time but... He aligns the first words a capella. The audience applauds, Biden and the First Lady are delighted. "At the next state dinner that we will have, it is you who will take care of the animation, jokes the American president. I had no damn idea you could sing."

A guitar as a gift

After his performance, Yoon was offered by his counterpart a guitar sent and signed by Don McLean, who could not join the dinner. On social networks, netizens praised Yoon Suk-yeol's singing talents.

"Yoon literally tore everything up in the White House!" enthused one user, in Korean, on Twitter in comments under the video showing the president singing. "Yoon revealed his hidden talent as a singer," wrote another, also in Korean, sharing the excerpt.

  • World
  • Joe Biden
  • South Korea
  • White House
  • USA