By Vince Jasper Hibe
Korean singer-actor Seo In Guk charmed fans with his “Heart Cookie” Asia tour fan meeting on Saturday, September 20, at the SM North EDSA Skydome.
Presented by L-Squared Productions PH, the fan meet marked his reunion with Filo Heartriders, two years after his last Manila event.
Wearing an all-black outfit, In Guk opened the evening with a swoon-worthy performance of “My Love,” serenading the crowd with his soulful voice.
“Magandang gabi. Ako si Seo In Guk. Kumusta naman kayo?,” he greeted in Filipino, before adding through an interpreter: “Thank you for coming to my fan meeting today.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Philippines. I’m really excited to be back. Actually, there are countries I used to visit, and for the Philippines, I first came last year as a tourism ambassador, right?” he recalled, expressing joy over his return.
He also thanked Filipinos for their warmth and hospitality, saying: “For me, the Philippines is such a friendly country, and the food is truly amazing. Filipinos are very kind and hospitable. I can feel your passion, and that always makes me happy whenever I’m here.”
During the show, Seo In Guk shared updates on his latest projects. He currently stars as Won Seung, an angel representing the monkey zodiac, in the fantasy-action drama “Twelve,” and also serves as a host on the Korean dating series “Better Late Than Single.”
When asked where he would take a Filipina on a date, he fondly mentioned Cebu: “I would take her to Cebu. I saw a lot of fish there. We could go to the sea and feed the fish.”
In one segment, fans voted on different choices about the singer-actor, giving them a chance to connect with him.
“I’m always told that my face is small and handsome. I hear that a lot,” he joked.
Reflecting on his acting career, he also admitted being surprised at being called a “kiss monster,” before adding: “I really feel all of my roles so that the audience can feel it.”
Looking foward, In Guk revealed two new romantic comedy projects: “Monthly Boyfriend” with Blackpink’s Jisoo, and “Let’s Go to Work Tomorrow” with Park Ji-Hyun.
The night also featured a heartfelt performance of In Guk’s “Ikaw” by Yeng Constantino, showcasing his musical range and sincerity. He later joined fans in a drawing relay and traditional Korean games, before treating them to a lucky draw segment with giveaways, including signed polaroids, personally purchased AirPods, and even his favorite cap.
After the lively games, he returned to the stage with a captivating rendition of “Distant Fate,” the OST from Doom At Your Service, followed by his single “Out Of Time.”
In a fan-organized project, Seo In Guk grew emotional as he thanked his supporters, recognizing both their loyalty and their charitable efforts.
“I want to say I’m very thankful that my fans are doing so much in society. I want to be the kind of person that, whenever you think of me, you’ll be proud of me,” he said through an interpreter.
“I really hope you guys had a great time. I’m so thankful and proud of you. I’ll do my best as an actor and singer to make you proud,” he added.
For the finale, Seo In Guk returned for an encore, performing Reply 1997 OST “Couple”. Fans sang along, creating a touching moment to close the evening. He then surprised the crowd by going down to greet them up close while singing “All For You.”
“Thank you. I love you. Please cherish our memories together,” he said as he exited the stage. Following his Manila stop, the Heart Cookie fan meeting will continue in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Singapore.
