By Benjamin Nathaniel Bondoc
MANILA – South Korean actor Park Bo Gum once again brought fun and made Filipinos swoon during his “Be With You” fan meeting at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Friday night.
The six-foot-tall star, clad in a faux police uniform, opened the night with his rendition of Korean songs “Annyeong” and “Just Fine.”
He then melted the hearts of his fans, a sea of white, blue and black, with his breathtaking smile and “aegyo” (Korean slang for cute behavior) gestures.
Aside from Korean songs, Bo Gum also gave a stellar performance of Filipino pop-rock band Nobita’s “Ikaw Lang” and the Christian song “How Great Thou Art”, to which fans cheerfully sang along.
Bo Gum spoke in fluent English and uttered some Filipino words throughout the show — a sincere effort that generated deafening screams.
“Kumusta? Miss kita. Masaya akong makita ka (How are you? I missed you. I’m happy to see you),” Bo Gum told the fans.
Blessed
During the “B Station” segment with South Korean host Sam Oh, Bo Gum shared the photo of the bouquet he received from Filipino fans upon touching down in Manila, adding that he was “blessed” by their warm welcome.
Bo Gum said puto seko (Filipino cookie made of cornstarch, butter and condensed milk) was the first local food that he tried.
“I think I have a lot of blessings this year. Also at this moment, I am receiving all the blessings as well. I’m actually having a very thankful time because I was able to greet you with a lot of good projects and also, I’m meeting you guys, I’m feeling very blessed right now,” he said through an interpreter.
Fans were also treated to a glimpse of Bo Gum’s acting prowess with a sneak peek of one of the best scenes from his latest drama, “Good Boy,” where he plays the role of Yoon Dong-ju, a former Olympic boxing medalist turned police officer through special recruitment.
Bo Gum revealed that he did not require a double for a scene where he chased the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run.
Adding to the fun was Bo Gum’s experience of playing jackstone, which he said was similar to the South Korean game gonggi. Fans cheered him on and burst into laughter while watching his antics.
Best fan service
The star of the night shone even brighter as he transformed into the King of Fan Service — from reading selected fan letters to granting their requests.
Two of the lucky ones were a female fan and her 72-year-old mother, who recently celebrated her birthday. Bo Gum briefly sang the birthday song while playing the piano for the elderly fan.
Some fans also got the opportunity to share the stage with Bo Gum, who took selfies with them and gave warm hugs — a “sana all” (hope it’s for all) moment for the not-quite-fortunate fans.
Others still went home happier with raffle prizes, such as official soundtrack albums of Bo Gum’s dramas, food items, Polaroid photo prints and fan accessories — all personally prepared by the actor.
After changing into his dapper denim wardrobe, Bo Gum performed an energetic song number while roaming the ground section twice and greeting fans up close.
He went up and down every stairway of the lower box area without showing signs of exhaustion, charming attendees in his maroon jumpsuit as the young Yang Gwan-sik, his character in the hit Netflix drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines.”
Bo Gum wrapped up his three-and-a-half-hour Manila tour with a brief hi-bye session where he waved at all fans on their way out — a kind of fan service that rarely happens.
In a printed souvenir letter to all fan meeting attendees, the 32-year-old “hallyu” (Korean Wave) celebrity called his fans “lifelong friends” and thanked them for their love and support.
“I pray that your journey will always be safe and filled with happiness. No matter what season you are in — be with you. Always stay healthy! Bless you all,” he said.
It was Bo Gum’s second fan meeting following his successful “Good Day” tour in 2019.
He rose to stardom with his roles in the dramas “Love in the Moonlight”, “Reply 1988”, “Hello Monster” and “Encounter.”
Events such as fan meetings of K-drama actors and singers are beneficial to the Philippine economy.
An article titled “From Freedom to Finances: Why K-Pop Wave is Driving Economic Growth” published on the social media page The Platform News PH said imports from South Korea, including K-Pop merchandise, beauty products, electronics, and fashion, reached USD8.88 billion (around PHP475.56 billion) in 2023.
It added that micro, small and medium enterprises, which account for 99.6 percent of local businesses, “have capitalized on the Hallyu wave” by launching fan merchandise stores, Korean-themed cafes, beauty shops and restaurants.
“Tourism has also seen a significant boost. As of August 2024, 428,537 Filipinos had visited South Korea, many of whom were motivated by their love of K-pop and K-dramas. Meanwhile, 1.4 million South Koreans visited the Philippines in 2023 — a 300 percent increase from the previous year,” the article read. (PNA)
