The leaders shared a sightseeing trip on Wednesday to admire authentic cultural treasures that connect the identity and spirituality of their countries.

The South Korean president accepted the invitation to travel to Nara, the Japanese prime minister’s hometown, to meet with her the previous day.

However, the visit included discussions, agreements, dinner, and even a drum session in which they played K-pop songs.

According to Japanese media, Horyu-ji Temple in Nara is unique in that it houses some of the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world and was the first site in Japan to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List (1993).

After meeting with South Korean residents in Japan’s Kansai region, Lee will conclude his visit and return to Seoul tonight.

The dignitaries agreed that their relations are now more important than ever in an international landscape marked by rising tensions.

They also agreed on the need to project bilateral relations into the future and support bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields.

abo/jav/mem/msm