By Aceelaine Duron
(July 4, 2024) – South Korean actor and ‘Queen of Tears’ star Kim Soo-hyun’s tears of joy and gratitude to fans filled The Big Dome just 15 minutes after kicking off his sold-out “Eyes on You” Asia tour fan meet last Saturday.
Surrounded by radiant smiles from his Filipino fans, Soo-hyun’s voice trembled with emotion as he addressed them in Korean, “Looking at your smiles, I can’t help but cry. I’m becoming emotional. Thank you po. Salamat po,” he expressed, wiping his tears away.
“Whenever I’m feeling tired, whenever I need some strength and laughs, I will remember all these beautiful faces and I will be coming here to get a lot of strength and support from all of you guys,” he vowed.
Moved by the unwavering support for his recent hit K-drama series, “Queen of Tears,” Soo-hyun humbly credited his fans for making this memorable event possible in the Philippines. “Because of all your love and support for ‘Queen of Tears,’ I was able to have a fan meeting here in the Philippines. Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.”
The nation’s “yeobo” [husband] further delighted fans by transforming the Araneta Coliseum into a Queen’s Department Store with a sweet gesture, creating a snowfall effect that evoked the special moments felt by Hong Hae-in in the series.
The fan meet’s Manila leg unfolded with the South Korean heartthrob serenading his Pinoy fans with “Love You With All My Heart,” a soundtrack from his hit K-drama series.
“I am very happy that I was able to come back after 10 years. Even though 10 years have passed, I still get nervous when I come up on this stage – in 2022, 2023, 2024, I was here in the Philippines. I am very happy to see you all again,” he confessed, moved by the warm reception that has amazed him consistently over the years.
“Eyes On You” marks his first Asia tour in 10 years, alongside his visits in the Philippines in 2022 and 2023 for fan meetings organized by a local clothing brand and a donut company he endorses.
As the fan meet continued, fans were treated to enjoyable segments like the “Yongduri Photo Studio,” where Soo-hyun shared candid stories behind his Instagram snapshots.
As his first Instagram post taken in Germany flashed on the screen with one shoulder of his clothing slipping down, Pinoy fans’ loud screams quickly filled The Big Dome.
“This photo was taken early in the afternoon. It was so hot, so I slipped my clothes down,” he explained, baring one shoulder for a minute, teasing Pinoy fans.
A clip from “Queen of Tears” featured at an “Exclusive! Soo Hyun’s Commentary” segment further tugged at fans’ heartstrings as Soo Hyun, playing the role of Baek Hyun Woo, shouted the iconic “Hae In-ah!” line from a scene where Hong Hae In’s illness worsens, and she mistakenly sees Eun-sung as Hyun Woo and gets into his car.
“When I was looking at Hae In, I felt anger, sadness, and a little bit of sorrow towards her. I was also worried about her health. That was how I felt when I was shouting. And of course, feeling sorry for Hae In,” he shared.
Kim Soo-hyun’s off-screen charm shines further during the “Learning about the Philippines” segment, where fans taught him some local expressions like “omsim,” “eme lang,” and “charot.”
During the segment, fans shouted “Kim Soo-hyun oppa, ang pogi mo!” so he could use the word “omsim.” But the South Korean star was too humble and instead responded in Tagalog, “Salamat po,” bowing with gratitude to Filipino fans.
True to his playful nature, as he learned the proper gesture of “charot” from some of the fans, Kim Soo-hyun kept using the Pinoy expression all night whenever he got the chance.
Some lucky fans also participated in a “Mission Relay Challenge” with the actor on stage, where the winning team received a necklace with a pendant that he drew and designed himself. As a treat, six other fans received the exclusive necklace gift, while the other 10 had a cute photo op with the actor on-screen.
The evening was further marked by Soo-hyun’s soulful renditions of “Wherever You Will Go,” “Somebody You Loved,” and “All of Me,” accompanied by his live band.
Despite minor technical glitches, the unwavering support from Filipino fans echoed through the venue, singing along with him, and uplifting Soo-hyun’s throughout his performance.
“First of all, thank you very much and then, I’m very sorry. In Korea, this kind of situation would be called ‘Aigoo! Aigoo! Aigoo! [Oh, dear!]’” he said, describing his performance. In response, Filipino fans shouted “Gwaenchana,” which means “It’s okay/It’s fine!”
“Whenever I come to the Philippines, everyone here, from start to finish of the show, is smiling. This makes me enjoy the show as well. The songs that I performed may not have been the best, but I really gained a lot of strength from you guys,” the actor said.
Dubbed as the “King of Yodeling” after his yodel performance at an award ceremony in Korea trended, Kim Soo Men – a name he jokingly gave himself in an interview – seemed to have channeled Kim Soo-hyun for a moment as he surprised fans with his performance of “She Taught Me How to Yodel.”
”We keep our eyes on you. Sarangahae! Mahal ka namin. Kim Soo Hyun, oppa!” a part of a fan’s message in a surprise video.
“Actually, when I was planning for this fan meeting, I wanted to give you guys a lot of laughs and enjoyment, but it seems like I was the one who laughed and enjoyed the show more,” he expressed.
Any Korean celebrity or idol’s event in Manila will never be the same without Pinoy fans shouting the “Walang uuwi! Walang uuwi!” chant. But unlike any other Korean star, Soo-hyun instead dances with the chant and even teases fans about exiting from the stage.
Closing his “Eyes On You” Asia tour, Kim Soo-hyun performed his song “Way Home,” released as one of “Queen of Tears” original soundtrack (OST).
While performing his last song, he happily received a four-leaf clover bouquet from a fan. He started to wave goodbye as he showered fans with his sweet flying kisses.
“Starting next month, I’ll be shooting a new drama. I will do my best for a great work and put a lot of effort into it and try to come back here as well to see you once again,” he promised.
“This year, I think I will come back to the Philippines once again. See you then. Everyone, stay healthy,” the actor announced, leaving further excitement to Pinoy fans.
As he departed, Kim Soo-hyun left a lasting reminder, “Everybody smile. Smile a lot, everyone.”
The ”Eyes On You” fan meet in Manila is presented by Wilbros Live.
(PB)
