MANILA, Philippines — Ju Ji-hoon evoked feelings of nostalgia and first love as he indulged fans with selfies and hugs during his first fan meeting in the country last night, August.2
The multi-awarded actor, a Baeksang winner, no less, was generous with hugs and selfies for fans who flocked to the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.
The “Trauma Code” star proved he’s more than just a brilliant actor, his talent, honed since his breakout in the 2006 K-drama classic “Princess Hours,” now extends to music. He opened the fan meeting with a heartfelt ballad, performing live without any backing track.
Standing tall at six feet, the star reached out to his fans without a hint of the superstar airs expected at his level. While some fan meets are often bound by rigid protocols, with the celebrity standing still as fans admire from a distance, Ji-hoon broke the mold, warmly welcoming everyone and even taking selfies with each fan one by one.
He warmly beckoned fans to come closer, waving them over with his hands. The Korean star even gamely signed their posters, on top of giving hugs and taking individual (not group) selfies, during the games prepared for the fan meet.
While it’s not his first time in the Philippines, it marks Ji-hoon’s first fan meeting in a career that began in the mid-2000s.
For many of his first-generation Hallyu fans, the early patrons of Korean dramas in the 2000s, it was no surprise to hear their excited shrieks when the opening notes of Howl and J’s “Perhaps Love” filled the venue.
Ji-hoon, ever popular as the crown prince of the fictional drama, took time to walk his way around the Newport Performing Arts Theater to the delight of fans who went crazy reaching out to him.
Though surrounded by bouncers, fans still caught glimpses of “The Kingdom” star, and even snagged selfies, as he made his way from one end of the stage, through the auditorium seats, to the other end.
With the requisite “Mahal Kita” phrases most Korean stars would utter at their concerts or fan meets, Ji-hoon’s love is more than just lip service. It was visibly palpable for even a short time.
Fans are sure to get more of Ji-hoon as he revealed that he is working on two projects, a fantasy and a webtoon adaptation. The latter is the reported adaptation of the popular online novel “The Remarried Princess,” a drama that features an all-star cast of Ji-hoon, Shin Min-ah, Lee Se-young and Lee Jong-suk.
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