President Joe Biden reacts as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sings the music “American Pie” within the State Dining Room of the White House on Wednesday.

Susan Walsh/AP

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Susan Walsh/AP

President Joe Biden reacts as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sings the music “American Pie” within the State Dining Room of the White House on Wednesday.

Susan Walsh/AP

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol handled President Joe Biden and fellow dinner visitors to a rendition of Don McLean’s “American Pie” on the White House Wednesday night time.

It was the nightcap to a packed day for the 2 heads of state, who earlier introduced their Washington Declaration on nuclear deterrence and signaled strengthening financial ties.

But at dwelling, Yoon faces criticism for pushing anti-feminist laws and rising the connection between South Korea and Japan.

Who is he? Yoon Suk Yeol, 62, is the President of South Korea. He started his five-year time period final May.

• Yoon defeated Democratic candidate Lee Jae-myung as a political newcomer, winning by a margin of less than 1%.
• A member of the right-wing People Power Party, Yoon ran on a platform of deregulating the economic system and restoring unity within the nation. He additionally appealed to anti-feminist voters, significantly younger males, by vowing to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family throughout his marketing campaign.
• Over the final yr, Yoon has deepened the connection between South Korea and the United States, which seeks in South Korea a partner in opposition to financial competitors with China and an ally amid tensions over Taiwan.
• He’s additionally, apparently, an honest singer. For a quick second, the White House turned a noraebang, which suggests karaoke spot in Korean — the phrase actually interprets to “song room.” Here’s his full efficiency from the reception dinner Wednesday night time:

What’s the massive deal? Yoon is on a six-day tour of the United States (no, not for a cappella). His journey marks the primary time a South Korean head of state has visited the U.S. in 12 years, and comes at a time of rising nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula.

• Biden mentioned in a joint press convention with Yoon on Wednesday {that a} nuclear assault on the U.S. or its allies, which incorporates South Korea, would imply the “end of whatever regime” at fault.
• Yoon has additionally met with members of the non-public sector, together with Tesla boss Elon Musk, as South Korea seeks deeper investments in semiconductors, batteries and electrical automobiles. Korean Yonhap News Agency reported that in a gathering Wednesday, Yoon requested Musk to put money into South Korea and take into account it a candidate for the corporate’s subsequent gigafactory.

Yoon Suk Yeol throughout a joint assembly of Congress on the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.

Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Images

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Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Images

What are individuals saying? Yoon addressed a joint session of Congress on Thursday, touting the deep relationship between the U.S. and South Korea that started 70 years in the past. He additionally dropped a number of cultural references in speech, which he delivered in English.

• “Culture is helping to further deepen our understanding and friendship. Nationality and language differences are no longer barriers,” Yoon mentioned, mentioning the Oscars success of movies Parasite and Minari, and mentioning Ok-Pop teams BTS and Black Pink. “BTS beat me to the White House, but I beat them to Capitol Hill,” he quipped.
• But at dwelling, the South Korean president has been experiencing decrease ranges of help for championing a more in-depth diplomatic relationship with Japan regardless of its colonial, imperialist previous.

So, what now?

• Yoon has additionally scheduled conferences with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Yoon is predicted to go to Harvard University and MIT on Friday earlier than leaving for Seoul on Saturday.

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