Tears, cheers, and the long-awaited reunion with Kim Soo-Hyun
“Bogo sipeoyo,” he said. That was what Korean superstar Kim Soo-hyun told his Filipino fans, and it means, “I miss you.” Then he added, “I hope you missed me, too.” And perhaps that was what was at the heart of this reunion between the Korean superstar, Bench and his Filipino fans. After years apart (he was here in 2022), it was obvious that they had been waiting for this moment.
Bench founder Ben Chan speaks on the star’s being the brand’s global ambassador. “Kim Soo-hyun has been our Bench model since 2022,” he said. “His pictures and videos easily show us how good he is as a model for the brand from then to now.”
Kim Soo-hyun’s return to Manila was met with the kind of welcome that has become familiar whenever a major Korean star arrives in the Philippines, with fans at the airport, a press conference and a fan meeting. But with Kim Soo-hyun, there seemed to be something more personal in the reception. His Filipino fans had clearly missed him, and he made it equally clear that he had missed them, too.
At the press conference, Soo-hyun was energetic, warm and funny, readily answering questions that ranged from his famous roles to late-night snacks and the Filipino fans he had come back to see. Asked what skill or hobby he would like to master if he could live for 400 years like his character Do Min-joon in My Love from the Star, he said, “since that is a long time, I think it would be great if I could master five languages. We all have different languages, right? Even those in the audience. And in that sense I would be able to communicate in a much deeper way with a cultural context.”
His favorite late-night indulgence was far less serious. “Ice cream sandwiches,” he said. “Since many of my friends are encouraging me to eat a lot, I’ve been eating them recently.”
When asked what first came to mind when he arrived in Manila, however, his answer immediately went back to his fans. “I remember when fans enthusiastically welcomed me with their sparkling eyes, which I mentioned last year, which were like eyes of an angel,” he said. “This expression stayed the same in this visit as well.” And when asked to describe his Filipino fans in three words or phrases, he answered, “warmth, sparkling eyes, passion.”
Before leaving the press conference, he delighted the room with a few words in Tagalog. “Mahal ko kayo. Maraming salamat po. Kita-kits bukas,” he said, referring to the fan meeting at the Mall of Asia Arena the following day. It was a light and charming way to end the afternoon, but the next day, the fan-meet’s energy was next level.
For me, one of the highlights of Kim Soo-hyun’s return was having the opportunity to sit down with him one-on-one for the second time. I first interviewed him in 2022 when Bench brought him to Manila as its global ambassador. This time, he was once again energetic, warm and funny, making amusing comments and even rapping at one point. He seemed genuinely happy to be here, and I could feel the positive energy throughout our conversation.
I began by asking about his long relationship with Bench and founder Ben Chan, and what had made that partnership endure. “I think being able to be together for a long time is because of the trust we have in each other,” he told me. “I was always able to communicate comfortably with Bench, and I’m grateful that we could work joyfully in a great atmosphere every time.” He also spoke respectfully about Ben Chan. “Chairman Ben Chan has always treated me warmly and has given me endless support, so I feel that our relationship is more than just a brand connection,” he said. “I look forward to continuing this relationship with Bench.”
On the Bench pieces from the current collection which were closest to his own style: “I usually like comfortable, basic styles, so simple items like T-shirts, shirts and denim that I can wear naturally in everyday life suit me best.” He particularly liked one denim look from the campaign, telling me, “In one of the outfits in the promo videos we made, I wore a denim set of jacket and pants which came out very cool.” He then pointed out that the same look was already up on one of the massive Bench billboards along EDSA.
His preference for simplicity extends to the way he dresses when he is not working. “I usually like simple, comfortable yet neat styles, and that is Bench,” he told me. “I tend to keep things clean overall while maintaining comfort, focusing on basic items.”
I also asked if he had taken up any new hobbies lately, and this was where I discovered something different about him. “I recently started taking photos again,” he said. “Lately, I have been interested in photography. Because of this, the way I see things started to differ.” He explained how photography had made him more observant. “Whenever I enter a specific place, I become very observant to the point that I check where the light is coming from and how shadows are being formed,” he said. “As I age, I now look at space and my surroundings because of photography.”
Recalling if there was one particular moment involving the Philippines or his Filipino fans that had stayed with him, once again he came back to their energy. “Rather than focusing on a single moment, what stays with me most is the energy the fans show me every time I come to the Philippines,” he said. “I am truly grateful every time I am warmly welcomed at airports or event venues and see that your support remains unchanged even after all these years.” Then came that image he had already mentioned at the press conference. “Like I said before, whenever I see the fans cheering for me, I see their eyes are very sparkling and they have the eyes of angels.” Clearly, those sparkling eyes had made a lasting impression on him.
This is his message to Filipino fans who had waited so long to see him again. “I’m very happy to have a show tomorrow with the fans. We have missed each other and hope that we can communicate that energy. Thank you so much for waiting and supporting us. I’ve been waiting and I’m very happy that we can meet in person and say our greetings again like this. I hope we can make lots of great memories together tomorrow.” And the next evening, that was what exactly happened.
Reportedly, around 20,000 people filled the Mall of Asia Arena for “Kim Soo-hyun: Our Forever With You.” Instead of the usual light sticks, fans wore wristbands that illuminated the venue. Fan clubs and groups from different parts of the world also prepared special projects, including a wall of bouquets with personal notes, all meant to show just how much affection had been waiting for him.
There were the expected fun moments as Soo-hyun interacted with fans onstage, with plenty of laughter and kilig from the audience. But one of the most touching highlights came when a fan-made song was performed by the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir with the audience singing along. Some words from the song included, “We will always stay, forever cheering, forever true.” A good singer, Soo-hyun also sang Dreaming, a fan favorite. As the evening unfolded, the emotions seemed to catch up with him. He broke into tears, and soon many of his fans were crying, too.
Ben Chan described exactly what made that evening feel different. “The Filipino audience is legendary when it comes to being an audience whether for fan meets or concerts. This, coupled with the number of years since the last live encounter with Kim Soo-hyun, has made the event not just a joyous reunion but also a heartfelt one. There were certainly tears shed from both Kim Soo-hyun and the Filipino fans, and one had to be there to feel the loving embrace of the audience. It was a touching experience and I’m glad I was present to witness such a reunion.”
Kim Soo-hyun had arrived saying, “Bogo sipeoyo,” and by the time he left, there was little doubt that the feeling was mutual.
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