Filipinos are undoubtedly huge Hallyu fans – and some of us would literally do everything just to meet our idol Korean pop superstars in person! That’s why it’s truly understandable if we feel very envious of some of our Kapamilya female celebrities who effortlessly got the chance to meet their Korean idols and crushes in person.
Number one on the list is none other than It’s Showtime host Anne Curtis who met not just one oppa, but eight! Definitely, one of the most unforgettable hosting gigs for her was the “Good Day” fan meeting of Love In The Moonlight actor Park Bo Gum at the Mall of Asia Arena, which was actually the actor’s first time to meet his Filipino fans.
In one of her trips to Seoul, South Korea to attend an event of a global luxury brand, she got to met her “ultimate oppa” Goblin lead actor Gong Yoo, to whom she even had a small talk, as well as EXO member Sehun.
Anne also expressed her excitement as she posted videos on Instagram when she attended the fan meeting of Weightlifting Fairy star Nam Joo Hyuk at the KIA Theater in 2018 and even cladded herself with a costume inspired by Lee Sung Kyung’s Kim Bok-joo – his leading lady in the said drama. Ultimately, she’s indeed living every K-pop fangirl’s dream as she got to meet and even had a picture with the whole Korean girl group BLACKPINK, which she considered her “happiest early birthday gift.”
Walang Hanggang Paalam star Arci Muñoz had a personal encounter with the Oscar-winning “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho and one of the movie’s headliners, Song Kang-ho in the Academy Awards last February. "I greeted mr. Kang ho Song! Had a convo with him in korean!! Oh was soo glad I took my korean class!! Told him how much I love their movie!! (sic)” Arci wrote in the caption as she posted her separate photos with the two on IG.
Aside from being a sports star and enthusiast, Umagang Kay Ganda host Gretchen Ho is also one huge K-Pop fan. She couldn’t contain her kilig when she unexpectedly got to meet Weightlifting Fairy star and every girl's oppa Nam Joo Hyuk up-close and personal at the NBA All-Star event in Los Angeles, California in 2018. Just when she thought that she would just do her work for an ABS-CBN Sports and Action live coverage, little did she know that it was also gonna be a lucky moment for her as she got the chance to not only have photos with him, but a short interview with him, who was there to watch a game of his idol Stephen Curry. A moment that’s definitely one for the books!
Actress Jessy Mendiola was also a very lucky one as she had an unforgettable moment with the well-known Korean actor Song Joong Ki at the 2016 Asia Pacific Actors Network (APAN) Star Awards held at Sangam Culture Plaza in Seoul, South Korea. Her presence was significant at the event as she was the first Filipina actress to have been given the Best APAN Star Award. What’s more special about their meeting was that Song Joong Ki himself posted a photo of them together on his official Facebook fanpage!
Of course, no one could ever forget the moment when Maja Salvador was hailed as the luckiest girl on Earth as she didn’t only get to see Hallyu actor Kim Bum, one of the lead actors of the hit romantic series Boys Over Flowers, but even worked with him for a softdrinks commercial in 2009. Not only that, for he also told Maja that she’s beautiful! They got reunited the following year for the sequel of the said advertisement.
Miss Universe 2015 and long-time ELF (Super Junior fan) Pia Alonzo Wutzbach, was on cloud nine when she finally met her favorite member Choi Siwon during the boy group's Super Show 7 concert at the Mall of Asia Arena in 2018. She even once called herself “Mrs. Siwon Choi” in her previous Twitter account, which went viral online in the recent years. Prior to their meeting, she already had kilig fangirl moment when she was congratulated by the Korean star after winning the Miss Universe title five years ago and invited her to be their boyband’s guest in the next "Super Show” here in the country, which came true! And last year, they once again made their followers thrilled when the beauty queen posted a photo of her holding on to the Korean superstar’s wax figure at Madame Tussauds, wherein she also has her own.
‘NCTzen momma’ Megastar Sharon Cuneta is not an exception to being an ultimate K-Pop fangirl! She and her daughter Miel made sure to attend the K-pop World Music Festival, which featured their favorite boy group NCT 127. Sharon was wearing a shirt which says “NCTzen Momma”. The veteran singer-actress said that she and Miel were lucky enough to have met and taken a picture with their idols through the help of Vice Ganda, and of course Ryan Bang. “You made our whole year!!! And thank you dear Ryan Bang for getting us through the boys’ masusungit na (grumpy) handlers!!!” Sharon said in her IG post caption.
And in 2019, Filipino K-Pop fans were thrilled when Goblin star Lee Dong Wook came to Manila for the #LoveKOrea Culture and Travel Fiesta event held by the Korean Tourism Organization Manila Office. Countless number of fans attended, hoping to see the famous oppa. But among the fans present, actress Sue Ramirez was the luckiest that day because she was tapped to be its emcee, since she’s the honorary ambassador of the Korea Tourism Organization. Besides, Sue was given the chance to film a movie in South Korea, “Sunshine Family”, where her leading man was Korean star Shinwoo of the group BLANC7.
Certainly, these once-in-a-lifetime encounters of Kapamilya celebs with some of our favorite Korean idols has made many fangirls out there green with envy! But don’t you ever lose hope because for sure, the universe will conspire to make that wildest dream of yours come true.
How about you, Kapamilya? Who is or are the Hallyu superstar/s you’ve been pining to see in the flesh and have an interaction with?