President Yoon Suk-yeol toasts with U.S. President Joe Biden
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s White House visit ended on a high note as he sang Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ to rousing applause.
Yoon is on a six-day state visit to the United States, where he discussed ‘the end’ of the North Korean dictatorship that deployed nuclear weapons against its friends with US President Joe Biden.
Later that day, the two leaders discussed more upbeat themes at a White House state dinner in Yoon’s honor with the South Korean leader, who is renowned in his native country to be a karaoke enthusiast, discussing his love of American music.
Biden said to Yoon, “We know this is one of your favorite songs, American Pie”, having pulled him up onto the stage at the end of the evening to listen to singers perform the classic.
The 62-year-old Yoon admitted, “Yes, that’s true”, adding that he had enjoyed the Don McLean song since he was at school.
Biden remarked, “We want to hear you sing it”.
“It’s been a while but…” Yoon reacted, offering only minor resistance as he took the microphone.
Yoon screamed out the first few lines of the song a capella, eliciting a tremendous ovation from the audience and delighting Biden and the First Lady.
“You’re looking at the entertainment for the next state dinner we’re going to have”, Biden told the audience, alluding to Yoon.
Then he turned to the South Korean president and exclaimed, “I had no damn idea you could sing”.
Biden informed Yoon that McLean would be unable to attend them at the White House, but had sent a signed guitar which the US president presented to the South Korean leader.
Also read: U.S. Warns North Korea, Says – “A Nuclear Attack Would Lead To End Of Regime”
