South Korean President Yoon Croons 'American Pie' and Biden Laughing His Heart Out

South Korean President Yoon Croons 'American Pie' and Biden Laughing His Heart Out
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photos by Chip Somodevilla / David Parry - WPA Pool

A little karaoke with a nice dinner quite often results in an eventful evening, but imagining that at a White House official dinner would be a stretch. Looks like South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol could.

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Yoon Suk-yeol's singing abilities astounded President Joe Biden after the South Korean president accepted the challenge to sing the American anthem at the White House. Mr. Biden and first lady Jill Biden, along with Mr. Yoon and his wife Kim Keon-hee, moved from the East Room to the State Dining Room at the conclusion of a state dinner, reports the Independent

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Broadway stars Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga, and Jessica Vosk performed a number of songs, including numbers from "Les Miserables" and "Funny Girl," before the first lady announced a performance of "American Pie." Mr. Biden and Mr. Yoon took the stage after the singers had finished, and Mr. Biden said, "We want to hear you sing it." Mr. Yoon, who reportedly counts the song as one of his favorites, hesitantly replied, "It's been a while."

This was not Mr. Yoon's first public performance. According to AFP, while campaigning in 2021, he appeared on the popular South Korean TV show "All the Butlers" and wowed its celebrity hosts with a cover of K-pop ballad "No One Else" by Lee Seung-chul. The song was then performed by the South Korean president, to rousing applause from the audience and Mr. Biden. As Mr. Yoon finished singing, the audience erupted in applause and gave the leader a standing ovation. "I had no damn idea you could sing," Mr. Biden said before handing over a guitar signed by Don McLean, who wrote the song. "The next state dinner we're going to have, you're looking at the entertainment," Mr Biden told the audience.

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In the world of Twitter, considering the friction between a lot of politicians, Mr. Yoon's attempt at the anthem received a lot of praise from some, and a fair few positive reactions. 

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Although his voice and portrayal of peace were well deserving of praise, considering the political dynamics, some Twitter users had some critique to offer, which resulted in a few harsh responses. 

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 South Korean President sings for American President