Kim Seon Ho Captivates Filipino Fans in His Spectacular Bench Fan Meeting in Manila

It was a night to remember for K-drama enthusiasts in the Philippines as the charismatic South Korean actor Kim Seon Ho graced the stage at the highly anticipated 2023 BENCH – Lovely To Meet Our Good Boy Fan Meeting in Manila. 

The event, held at the jam-packed Smart Araneta Coliseum, was a celebration of love and appreciation between the Korean drama star and his devoted Filo Seonhohadas.

With his bedimpled smile and charming reactions, Kim Seon Ho captured the hearts of everyone present from the moment he stepped on stage. The crowd erupted into cheers, showing their excitement and admiration for the actor who has garnered immense popularity for his versatile acting, especially in Kdramas Start-Up and Hometown Cha Cha Cha. He also has a very endearing personality, throwing Filipino words he learned such as “Grabe”, “Nahiya ako talaga”, and even “Ngumiti ka naman dyan, akong bahala sayo”, his line from the movie The Childe. 

Organized by Bench, a leading Philippine clothing and lifestyle brand, the fan meeting aimed to bring the Korean actor closer to his Filipino fans, who have supported him throughout his journey in the entertainment industry. The event was a perfect opportunity for fans to interact with their idol up-close and personal, creating unforgettable memories that will be cherished for years to come.

Getting To Know Kim Seon Ho

The fan meeting started with a chill “story time” with the actor, where they projected his different photos, and then Kim Seon Ho talked more about it. 

First photo was from his theater performance for Touching the Void, where the actor said he had to talk to real mountaineers to play the role well. He also imparted a lesson he got from this production, “Whatever challenges you have in life, keep pushing. Don’t give up.” Seon Ho also said that acting in theater made him a better actor, since he has to build a chemistry between him and the live audience. 

They also showed on the screen a photo from his latest movie The Childe, which received lots of great reviews from film critics. When asked for his reaction after finding out that he will play a role different from his usual, he said that he tried his best to see what he needs to do, looked at a lot of references, to be able to showcase this role well. 

When asked for his favorite movie, Seon Ho said that he has always loved the film If Only for a long time.

 The fan meet host Robi Domingo also praised Kim Seon Ho’s dimples, asking if he loves having them. To which the actor replied, “Before it was a complex.” He even said to a friend who got jealous of his dimples that they were caused by an injury. But now as an actor, he loves them.

“How do we see Kim Seon Ho’s dimples?” the host asked. “It’s very easy,” the actor replied. “Actually, when I was waiting backstage, I was already smiling.”

Game Time with Kim Seon Ho

After the Q&As, it was game time! Throughout the night, lucky fans were chosen to participate in games and challenges, allowing them to get even closer to the star. Kim Seon Ho’s playful and down-to-earth nature shone as he engaged with his Filipino Seonhohadas, creating an atmosphere filled with laughter and joy. 

For the first game, Kim Seon Ho showed he has really sharp eyes during Spot The Difference. They showed 3 sets of photos, including pictures from a shoot, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, and The Childe, and Seon Ho got everything right despite the time limit! He was really nervous and competitive, making him fun to watch even more!

The next game was Pictionary, where lucky fans from the audience were sent onstage to guess what their favorite actor was drawing. Even with the time limit, all contestants were able to guess correctly, and took home Kim Seon Ho’s drawings with his signature.

And lastly, Kim Seon Ho also played the iconic Pinoy Henyo game with the audience, where he was able to guess all the words correctly too!

Fan Service King Kim Seonho

More fan participation followed for the next segments, starting with Chef Hong where Kim Seon Ho cooked the Korean dish Tteokbokki on stage. “I am not sure if I am doing this right, but I will do my best,” the actor said when he found out one audience member will have to try his creation after. 

While whipping the dish, the host asked the actor how he kept himself fit, he said he had to only eat tteokbokki once a week, which is a “sad story”. Kim Seon Ho also said that his favorite food is bulgogi or beef, and the Filipino dish he enjoyed was halo-halo and lechon. 

One of the most touching moments of the night was when the lucky fan who was able to try Kim Seon Ho’s cooking also had the chance to share her message to the actor. “I’ve been to all your fan meetings. Please keep coming back to Manila,” she said to the actor.

And finally, Kim Seon Ho also reenacted iconic scenes from his Kdramas Start-Up, 100 Days My Prince, and Hometown Cha Cha Cha with lucky fans. 

A True Benchsetter Kim Seon Ho

As the fan meeting drew to a close, the crowd couldn’t help but feel a bittersweet mix of emotions. They showed a video featuring Filipino Seonhohadas, and you can see how appreciative the star is to his fans. Kim Seon Ho was very responsive, giving finger hearts and mouthing the word fighting for every message he got through this fan project.

The event had been a rollercoaster of excitement, joy, and heartfelt connection. Kim Seon Ho bid farewell to his adoring fans with this message:

“First of all, honestly I really missed you guys so much. It was really unexpected that I’ll be cooking tteokbokki in front of a lot of people, playing games, and reenacting some scenes from my dramas. As one of the fans said (earlier at the fan project video), we are one family, and I am so happy to be part of this family.”

He added, “I would like to sincerely thank BENCH for this chance, this support to be with my fans. As an actor, I will cherish today as an unforgettable memory. Thank you very much.”

This Bench fan meeting truly cemented Kim Seon Ho’s status as an international sensation. Not only did we get to know more about him outside his roles, played games, and reenacted scenes from his dramas, it also brought together people from different backgrounds under one roof to celebrate a shared passion for such an incredible and down-to-earth man. 

Everybody present that night left the venue with full hearts and even more admiration and love for Kim Seon Ho. Undoubtedly, the actor’s journey has only just begun, and his Filipino fans eagerly await the next chapter in his stellar career.

Buzzsetter extends gratitude to BENCH for the invite to Lovely To Meet Our Good Boy Fan Meeting in Manila. The event was covered by Ana Gonzales and Jacquelou Colitoy