South Korea's Yoon performs 'American Pie' at White House dinner

Not only can South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol lead a nation, but he can also lead a room in a rousing rendition of Don McLean's "American Pie."
In a moment that will surely go down in White House history, Yoon serenaded guests at a state dinner on Wednesday with a few lines from the hit American classic, which was apparently his favorite in school. "[W]e want to hear you sing it," President Biden told his South Korean counterpart, before the latter took the mic. After belting out a few lines, Yoon concluded his performance to "huge cheers and a standing ovation," per NBC News.
Biden then presented Yoon, who is visiting Washington on a six-day state trip, with a guitar autographed by McLean. "The next state dinner we're going to have," the president said, "you're looking at the entertainment."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I had no damn idea you could sing," he added.
McLean, who was invited to the dinner but couldn't attend, was equally blown away by Yoon's performance. "What a moment last night was, as I watched the video clips. I wish I could have been there, but there always is a next time," he said in a statement. "I hope President Yoon learns how to play the guitar that I signed so when we meet, in the future, we can do the song together!"
In addition to the state dinner, the pair of leaders also on Wednesday announced an agreement to together combat the rising nuclear threat from North Korea. That said, has anyone tried ... serenading Kim Jong Un?
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
August 9 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include snake oil salesmen, Ghislaine Maxwell's new residence, and more
-
5 hastily redrawn cartoons about redistricting
Cartoons Artists take on Donald Trump's draughtsmanship, the White House ballroom, and more
-
Bonnie Blue: taking clickbait to extremes
Talking Point Channel 4 claims documentary on the adult performer's attention-grabbing sex stunts is opening up a debate
-
Trump officials reinstating 2 Confederate monuments
Speed Read The administration has plans to 'restore Confederate names and symbols' discarded in the wake of George Floyd's 2020 murder
-
Trump nominates Powell critic for vacant Fed seat
speed read Stephen Miran, the chair of Trump's Council of Economic Advisers and a fellow critic of Fed chair Jerome Powell, has been nominated to fill a seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
-
Congress should 'step in' to block Trump's White House ballroom makeover
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
ICE scraps age limits amid hiring push
Speed Read Anyone 18 or older can now apply to be an ICE agent
-
Trump's global tariffs take effect, with new additions
Speed Read Tariffs on more than 90 US trading partners went into effect, escalating the global trade war
-
House committee subpoenas Epstein files
Speed Read The House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for its Jeffrey Epstein files with an Aug. 19 deadline
-
India rejects Trump threat over Russian oil
Speed Read The president said he would raise tariffs on India for buying and selling Russian oil
-
NY's Hochul vows response to Texas gerrymander
Speed Read Gov. Kathy Hochul has promised to play ball with redistricting that favors the Democrats