First lady Kim Keon Hee, right, and her Japanese counterpart Yuko Kishida visit a K-pop entertainment company in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

First lady Kim Keon Hee and her Japanese counterpart Yuko Kishida visited a leading K-pop entertainment company in Seoul on Friday to encourage Korean and Japanese trainees, according to the presidential office.

The two first ladies talked about K-pop's global success and its impact. They looked around dance and recording studios to witness the rigorous training that aspiring K-pop idols undergo. After joining an entertainment agency, trainees typically spend years receiving intensive and systematic vocal and dance instruction before making their debut.

"I'm glad to see young Japanese come to South Korea to chase their K-pop dreams," Kim told the trainees she met at the agency, including those from Japan. "Korea and Japan have many cultural similarities, and if Korean and Japanese artists come together, the power of Asian culture will grow stronger. I support your dreams," the Korean first lady added.

Kishida also encouraged the Japanese trainees, referring to them as "the pride of Japan."

"You are Japan's pride as you strive as part of K-pop, which is popular worldwide. Thanks to your efforts, the people of Korea and Japan are opening their hearts to each other, deepening their understanding," Kishida said. "The power of music is tremendous, and I support your dreams of becoming artists," she added.

In recent years, major K-pop labels have been embracing non-Korean members to appeal to audiences from different countries. For them, Japan is a popular concert tour stop as it offers a handful of large-scale venues such as the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome.

This is not the first time they engaged in cultural activities together to promote friendly ties. In March 2023, Kim made wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets, with Kishida when she visited the prime minister's residence during President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Tokyo. In May last year, the two visited Jingwansa Temple in Seoul during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Korea for a summit with Yoon.

On Friday, the Japanese first lady accompanied her husband on a two-day visit to Seoul. The two leaders held a summit in the afternoon to review their efforts in strengthening relations between their countries and explore ways to enhance bilateral cooperation beyond Kishida's impending departure. The Japanese prime minister, who announced in August that he would resign this month amid declining approval ratings and internal party scandals, is ending his three-year term early.