MANILA, Philippines — South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok hoped to be remembered as someone who brought happiness to his fans during his “The Secret Library in Manila” fan meet on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
True to his wish, he left his fans, collectively known as WOO CHE TONG, ecstatic as he delivered heartfelt musical performances, playfully interacted with them and offered glimpses of his life beyond the screen.
From blowing kisses to the crowd to forming heart signs and flashing his captivating smile, Woo-seok won his fans’ hearts with his endearing gestures.
“First of all, I’m very excited to be back here in Manila to meet my Filipino WOO CHE TONG. It’s actually my third time coming back to this country. But every time I’m here, I really want to say thank you so much for your warm welcome,” he told the audience through an interpreter.
Staying true to the event’s theme, Woo-seok took on the role of a dashing librarian, with the stage transformed into a library. He also brought out a stack of books, each representing the segments of the program.
During the program’s first segment, “The Librarian’s Secret Records,” host Kring Kim asked Woo-seok to complete the sentence, “If the phrase ‘being like Woo-seok’ were used as an adjective, I think it would mean…”
Before the “Lovely Runner” actor could respond, the enthusiastic crowd chimed in with chants of “Pogi!” Woo-seok embraced the compliment, saying, “OK! Haha!”
He was also asked how he wanted to be remembered by fans. Once again, the eventgoers chanted “Pogi!” But Woo-seok offered a heartfelt response, “You know, this library is like my record, my memory. Somebody or a moment that I want to remember right now is we are happy because we love one another.”
“But as we become busier and go on with our busy lives, sometimes there could be a moment that you forget. But a memory where I can go back to remember and cherish, something that really makes you happy — that’s the kind of person I want to be remembered as,” he added.
As the program continued, two lucky eventgoers were selected to reenact iconic scenes from Woo-seok’s series. While waiting for the participants to come up on stage, he uttered several Tagalog statements, including “Tayo na,” “Dito ang tingin,” “Mahal kita,” “Kaya ko ’to,” “Salamat po” and “Cute kayo,” sending spectators into a frenzy.
Woo-seok then took a short break to change into an all-black ensemble. He returned to the stage and descended to the SVIP section to interact with fans up close.
“It was really good that I could see you closer. Although I wasn’t able to make eye contact with everyone individually. But it was exciting to be closer to you just to see you, guys,” the “Perfect Crown” star told the audience afterward.
In the second part of the program, dubbed the “Secret Chapter,” Woo-seok took on several challenges, including a filmography quiz, the “Heart Pounding Challenge,” which involved dancing and playing tumbang preso.
He also showcased his cooking skills during the “Librarian’s Recipe” segment, preparing an egg dish while sporting an apron.
In the fourth “chapter,” “Destiny’s Bookmark,” Woo-seok distributed signed merchandise to several eventgoers.
Toward the end of the event, Woo-seok posed for a group photo with the crowd before reading heartfelt messages of appreciation from his supporters, some of whom had flown all the way from other countries to the Philippines to see him.
When the audience sang Sudden Shower, Woo-seok seemed deeply touched.
“I really, really liked it. I received so much energy from you, and I just want to give you more and more,” he said, capping off the night with Fate Line from the K-drama “Perfect Crown.”
The show was presented by PULP Live World.