Park Hyung-sik excites, inspires in fan meet with a cause

When Park Hyung-sik announced that he would be returning to the Philippines for the third time, I expected, perhaps unfairly, that he would put on a show that would give similar experiences to his previous fan meetings.

Worried, I started browsing through my phone gallery and recalled the memories of his first visit in 2017.

But then came show day. Inside Araneta Coliseum, a three-minute countdown on the big screen appeared, rousing my anticipation and hope for something new and unique.

After all, they say, “Good things come in threes.”

Little did I know that the evening would turn out to be so much more than I hoped for—one filled with surprises, heartwarming moments and cute revelations about the Korean actor’s life.

Four-year wait

Hyung-sik’s loyal followers, whom he calls “SIKcrets,” filled the entire venue with deafening screams as a promotional video played onscreen. In it, the actor, dressed sharply in a black suit, was shown in an office scene. He reached into a drawer, pulled out a Philippine passport, before giving the crowd a charming wink.

Finally, Hyung-sik emerged onstage and greeted his Filipino and international fans. “Are there people here who were also with me four years ago?” he asked.

Upon realizing that there were both new and old fans in attendance, he expressed his gratitude, saying, “Talaga ba? Salamat po sa inyong lahat! I really miss all of you! Sobrang na-miss ko kayo!”

Since his acting debut in 2011, Park Hyung-sik has appeared in a number of Korean drama series: “The Heirs” (2013), “High Society” (2015), “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth” (2016), “Strong Girl Bong-soon” (2017), “Suits” (2018), “Happiness” (2021) and “Our Blooming Youth” (2023).

In 2022, he appeared on the reality show “In the Soop: Friendcation” and went on a four-day vacation with fellow artists Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, Peakboy and V of BTS. He also delighted his fans by reprising his role as An Min-hyuk in a cameo appearance in “Strong Girl Nam-soon” (2023).

‘Doctor Slump’

Hyung-sik currently stars as the lead actor of the JBTC series “Doctor Slump,” where he plays Yeo Jeong-woo, a celebrated plastic surgeon who finds himself in the toughest slump of his life.

In his school days, Jeong-woo excelled academically and later studied at the top medical school in the country. Now a renowned professional, his life appears headed in the right direction until a mysterious medical accident happens.

With the help of an interpreter, Hyung-sik shared his excitement for the project during the Q&A segment. “In Korea right now, it’s common to discuss burnout and moments of slump in life. The storyline is so familiar to me that it piqued my interest the moment I read the script. I also wanted to give comfort to all of you,” he said.

“Doctor Slump” is also a reunion of sorts for Hyung-sik and actress Park Shin-hye, whom he starred with in the 2013 series “The Heirs.”

Despite not having any scenes together in “The Heirs,” Hyung-sik is elated working with Shin-hye in “Doctor Slump. “I’m having so much fun working with her.”

In the series, Hyung-sik’s character finds himself in jeopardy and dealing with unexpected life challenges. Asked about how he overcomes sadness, Hyung-sik jested, “Isn’t it a problem if you’re always happy? It’s also scary that I’m always laughing, right?”

He admitted that he, too, “feels moments of loneliness, but during those times, I spend time with my friends.”

“We go scuba diving. But lately, I have also become interested in golfing. I really enjoy it because it requires my full concentration, keeping me from dwelling on my problems. That’s how I overcame those thoughts. It’s important to focus or refocus on something else so you don’t feel very depressed.”

Impressive vocals

One of the highlights of Hyung-sik’s fan meeting was his impressive singing ability. Prior to becoming an actor, the Korean star, at the age of 18, debuted as a member of the K-pop boy band ZE:A in 2010.

And Hyung-sik made sure to showcase his talent with live performances, regaling fans with songs from his previous dramas, such as “Bud” from “Our Blooming Youth” and “Because of You” from “Strong Woman Bong-soon.” He also impressed the audience with covers of Justin Bieber’s “Off My Face,” Sung Si Kyung’s “Every Moment of You” and a rendition of James Ingram’s “Just Once.”

Not just your usual fan meet

Dubbed “SIKcret Time” in Manila, Hyung-sik’s Asian tour—made possible by Publicity Asia and MQ Live, in partnership with P&Studio and Tonz Entertainment—was more than just a typical fan gathering.

While the event showcased Hyung-sik’s playful side through activities like jegichagi (a game similar to a Filipino game called sipa), singing with voice-changing effects, and fun, lighthearted interaction with fans, it also served a deeper purpose.

A portion of the ticket sales will benefit the international child rights organization Save the Children and its efforts to ensure the continued learning, survival and protection of Filipino children. Signed merchandise will also be auctioned off to help raise more funds.

Ability to inspire

Growing up, Hyung-sik, like many of us, had many dreams about what he wanted to become. “When I was young, I really wanted to be a policeman,” he revealed. However, as he grew older, his goals became more realistic. At one point, he thought about pursuing a career in the legal field as an attorney.

But life, with all of its unpredictability and redirections, led him to a different path—the world of show business. Reflecting on this journey, he said: “I really love where I am now. The happiest moment of my life is right now.”

This sentiment resonated with his fans, including Eshell Rose Duyan, a member of Future Vision Home in Taguig City, one of the 12 organizations for persons with disabilities supported by Save the Children.

Eshell, who was born with vision impairment, talked about meeting Hyung-sik in person and how he inspired her to fulfill her dreams.

“He inspired me when he told his story about wanting to become a police officer when he was young,” she said. “I dreamed of becoming a model or a flight attendant, but I know that, with my condition, it may be impossible. However, like Hyung-sik oppa, I want to believe that God will provide what’s best for me.”

Perfect 100

As the night came to a close, Hyung-sik expressed his gratitude to his passionate Filipino fans, promising to return with even more exciting projects in the future.

“You’re very passionate, talaga. Natuwa talaga ako, and you provide me with an inexhaustible supply of energy to carry back to my residence. You’re the best!”

“After four years, ngayon lang ako nakabalik. Thank you so much for all your passion and love. I believe that you all had a great response when you watched “Strong Girl Do Bong-soon.” I can see that you really love that drama … And for ‘Doctor Slump,’ thank you so much for your love. Sincerely, thank you for all of that.”

“Now that I’m going back to Korea, I will have better projects, so sana ma-excite kayo. Salamat po!” added Hyung-sik, who rated his experience in Manila a perfect 100.

Despite my initial worries, Hyung-sik—with his vibrant energy and genuine appreciation that resonated with fans—did prove that, indeed, good things come in threes.