Korean actor Byeon Woo Seok, best known for his role in Lovely Runner, delighted fans during his first Asia tour, 2024 Byeon Woo Seok Asia Fan Meeting Tour: Summer Letter in Manila. The event, presented by PULP Live World, took place at the New Frontier Theater on June 22. It was a dream come true for fans eager to see the actor in person.
Prior to the fan meeting, Byeon Woo Seok charmed the Philippine media at Shangri-La The Fort, where he made a lasting impression by gifting each reporter a flower. What’s more, he personally handed them out. During the media conference, Byeon Woo Seok expressed his excitement for the fan meeting, his love for the Philippines, and his Filipino TongTongs–the name of his fandom.
When asked about his legacy, he expressed hope that fans would cherish the other characters he has played as much as they love Sunjae from Lovely Runner. After all, his other works, like Strong Girl Nam-soon and 20th Century Girl, hold special memories for him. He did acknowledge that the tvN series gave his popularity a huge boost, which he said he’s still coming to terms with. He also said that his life has become “a surprising dream.”
The fan meeting itself was filled with much joy and excitement. Byeon Woo Seok delighted fans by strutting onstage like the fashion model that he is, then segued into recreating iconic scenes from Lovely Runner, namely the photobooth and cherry blossom scenes. When he and a lucky fan did the former, the theater erupted in cheers. The recreation of the cherry blossom scene elicited gasps and thunderous applause from the audience.
A fun Bingo game followed, where the actor humorously struggled with a mini bike challenge due to his towering height. He ultimately succeeded by pushing the bike with his feet. During a “This or That” segment, he entertained fans with his reaction when asked to choose between a haunted room or a room with a cockroach.
But the fan meeting wasn’t all fun and games. It was also filled with heartfelt moments. During the Q&A, one Filipino TongTong’s question about how Byeon Woo Seok copes with stress led to a sincere response. Another emotional highlight was when he sat down to watch a VCR with sweet messages from different fans, which ended up moving him to tears.
When the VCR finished playing, he confided to his fans that he felt unwell and was worried about not being able to give his best during the event. Despite this, the energy and enthusiasm of the Filipino TongTongs uplifted him and brought him immense joy. He shared his concerns, saying, “I was worried I wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy this moment with you because of my health.” Byeon Woo Seok’s vulnerability touched the fans’ hearts, especially when he credited them for enabling him to have fun despite his condition. “Your energy helped me enjoy the fan meeting, even though I felt emotional and overwhelmed,” he added.
Towards the end of the fan meeting, Byeon Woo Seok sang “I Think I Did” from the soundtrack of Lovely Runner. The evening concluded with his touching rendition of the song “Sonaki” (“Sudden Shower”), as confetti rained down inside the theater, creating a magical atmosphere.
As he left the venue, Byeon Woo Seok even rolled down the window of his car to wave goodbye to the fans who gathered outside to wait for him. They sent him off with an explosion of cheers.
Overall, Byeon Woo Seok’s fan service left a lasting impression on Filipino TongTongs, making the “2024 Summer Letter” fan meeting an unforgettable experience.
2024 BYEON WOO SEOK ASIA FAN MEETING TOUR: SUMMER LETTER IN MANILA is presented by PULP Live World.
*all photos credit to PULP Live World and Joel H. Garcia
