The two Korean superstars love their Filipino fans and the country’s beautiful islands.
It was a back-to-back “oppa” weekend for Filipino K-drama fans as South Korean superstars Park Seo Joon and Lee Minho revisited the Philippines to hold separate gatherings with their followers on top of their brand ambassador engagements.
Seo Joon graced the anniversary of a wellness company in Smart Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City last Saturday, Oct. 14. Prior to that, he met with selected members of the press including News5 and OneNews.PH to share his thoughts about traveling to Manila for the second time in four years.
The 34-year-old actor first visited the country in 2019 when he endorsed a local clothing line. Speaking through an interpreter, Seo Joon said he hopes to see other places in the Philippines like tourist destinations, if given an opportunity.
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“A few years back, a lot of years back, I was able to visit Cebu and this was actually a very memorable time for me. So, recently, I also enjoyed going to different vacations. So, if I’m here, I would also love to visit different tourist or vacation spots,” he said.
Seo Joon is known for his leading roles in hit television series such as “Itaewon Class” (2020) and “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” (2018). Since then, he became one of the most sought-after actors based in Seoul whose fame extended globally.
This year, he starred in commercially successful movies “Dream” and “Concrete Utopia,” the latter being South Korea’s entry to the Best International Feature Film category in the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. He will also appear in the latest American superhero movie “The Marvels.”
Seo Joon told reporters he looked forward to meeting his Filipino fans and was always pleasantly surprised by their warm welcome whenever he arrived in the country. “I cannot truly say that I can grasp the scale of how big I am here,” he said.
“I’m really happy, and also, I can really say that the reason why I am able to stand and sit here with you is for my opportunity to meet my fans once again,” he noted. Seo Joon understood his celebrity status, but did not imagine the success he is having right now because he thought he had a vague future.
When asked to give advice to his 18-year-old self, he said: “I would love to say that if you just do your best, everything will work out. However, even though everything will work out, I hope you will never lose your own self.”
Seo joon revealed he is currently working on a new web series for Netflix called “Gyeongseong Creature.” “We have been shooting this project for the past two years, completing seasons one and two, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other again,” he said.
Minho, meanwhile, greeted his fans on Sunday, Oct. 15, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. The event coincided with his meeting with the investors of a local real estate development company that he is currently endorsing.
He also spent time with the members of the media to answer some questions. Like his fellow South Korean actor, Minho had only positive things to say about his experiences in the Philippines. He said he always appreciates the energy he receives from his Filipino fans, which is what he missed the most.
“As soon as I came down the airplane, a lot of people were waiting for me and there were a lot of fans waiting for me outside the airport, too. It was such a shame that I was not able to meet them personally and greet them personally. But being able to see them, I was very happy,” Minho said in Korean.
The 36-year-old actor and businessman visited the country three times already. First was in 2012 and then later in 2016 when his popularity rose following the success of the South Korean adaptation of the Japanese manga series “Boys Over Flowers” in 2009.
Minho shared that to this day, there are people who still call him “Gu Jun-pyo,” the name of the character he played in the show, to his delightful surprise because it aired 13 years ago. “It’s really amazing to see how a project that we did so long ago can be continuously influential,” he said.
Since then, the actor has gone on to star in other projects, including “Pachinko,” the American-produced drama series, which has been airing on Apple TV since 2022. The show was renewed for its second season and it will be released next year.
Another thing he has in common with Seo Joon was his interest in visiting other Philippine islands. Minho has also been to Cebu, but would also love to go to a more private island, so he could spend a quiet time for himself.
“Whenever I get to the Philippines, I always have in my heart the idea of going to a great private island and spend time for myself. However, unfortunately, due to my tight schedule, I think it won’t be allowed this time,” he said, adding “I think it would be really fun to camp also.”
Minho told reporters he prefers a “minimalist” lifestyle at home. When asked to list his three essential household items, he selected: a double king size bed, a sofa, and a microwave oven. “I think I prefer homes that do not have a lot of things inside. I kind of prefer minimal homes,” he said.
“But, of course, everything depends on the preferences of a person. Some people they really feel comfort and safety whenever there are a lot of appliances at home,” Minho noted.
As regards his “secret to longevity” in his career, he said: “I do not try to set a new separate goal or specific objective that I want to achieve. But I will always try to show my true self and always do my best through these different projects and I think that helps me a lot.”
The “Fun Meet” engagements of both actors were made possible by local events organizer Wilbros Live.
