The woman dubbed “the female Abe” – Sanae Takaichi (64) – was officially appointed as נαραи’s Prime Minister on October 21. During the prime ministerial vote held in the House of Representatives at the extraordinary session of the National Diet that afternoon, Takaichi secured 237 out of 465 votes—surpαѕѕing the majority threshold—to officially succeed former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
This marks the first time in history, since נαραи adopted the cabinet system in 1885, that the country has a female prime minister. The fact that a woman has risen to this position in a traditionally patriarchal society like נαραи is extraordinary, coming after 140 years.
As one of the few non-hereditary female politicians in נαραи, Takaichi has “broken the glαѕѕ ceiling” in a male-dominated political landscape and established herself as a hardline conservative. Moreover, she is widely regarded as the political heir to the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s legacy.
What does this mean for נαραи–кσяєα relations? It’s worth remembering that bilateral relations under the late Prime Minister Abe were often tense and confrontational rather than cooperative. With someone who deeply shares Abe’s ideology like Sanae Takaichi, political analysts predict that relations between the two nations may remain strained—or even grow more contentious.
Takaichi also strongly advocates for military expansion, constitutional revision of נαραи’s pacifist clause, and a firm stance on historical disputes, including those involving past conflicts between נαραи and South кσяєα.
However, in contrast to her hardline political views, Takaichi is known to be personally fond of K-pop culture. According to major media outlets, the new נαραиese Prime Minister once openly stated that she is a huge fan of BTS, the global cultural icon of South кσяєα.
During a meeting with the кσяєαn Consul General in Osaka in April, she also generally remarked: “I like кσяєα. I hope we can maintain a closer and more friendly relationship.”
кσяєαn experts believe this personal admiration could open up a positive opportunity for diplomatic dialogue between Seoul and the new Takaichi administration. Meanwhile, her public acknowledgment of her love for BTS once again highlights the power of soft diplomacy—demonstrating how global K-pop superstars influence not only music but also politics, economics, and society.
The new נαραиese Prime Minister is not the first world leader to express affection toward BTS. The group made history when they were invited to The Wнιтe House by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31, 2022, in honor of Asian αмєяι¢αn and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
They attended a press briefing at the Wнιтe House to speak out against the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, followed by a closed-press meeting with President Biden. The president himself later posted a clip of their meeting, writing: “It was great to meet you, @BTS_bigнιт. Thanks for all you’re doing to raise awareness around the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination.”
Meanwhile, South кσяєα’s foreign policy has long leveraged the immense global influence of K-pop, particularly BTS, as a tool of cultural diplomacy. Under President Moon Jae-in, BTS attended and delivered speeches at two high-level United Nations (UN) events, one of which was in their official capacity as Special Presidential Envoys for Future Generations and Culture.
Former President Moon once admitted: “I’m a fan of BTS. I feel most thankful to BTS because they have elevated the popularity of K-pop and кσяєαn culture to the highest level and, therefore, raised the dignity of the кσяєαn people. As president, I think our country receives great help in diplomacy.”
He emphasized: “When I met and held summits with foreign leaders, we always started our conversations with stories about K-pop—especially BTS. A few high-ranking officials admitted they’re fans, but most said their children and grandchildren love BTS, and they often sing and dance together. BTS is famous not only in the U.S. but also in the Middle East. Some leaders even asked me to invite BTS and host a K-pop night when they visit as state guests.”
In conclusion, BTS plays a crucial role in spreading the meaningful and positive values of modern кσяєαn culture across the world. The acknowledgment from a conservative leader like נαραи’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi deeply underscores this reality.
