Tovic Salvador

Lee Min-ho brings PH fans into universe filled with fun, ‘kilig’

Article (news)

Jaehwa Bernardo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174668874363120250508 (2).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">South Korean actor Lee Min-ho during his &#x27;Minhoverse&#x27; fan meeting at the Mall of Asia Arena on April 26, 2025. <em>Photos courtesy of  PULP Live World, TONZ Entertainment and MYM Entertainment </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Remember when, as children, many of us played “tumbang preso” outdoors or popped balloons at parties? For a few lucky Filipino fans of Lee Min-ho, these childhood games were likely etched into their memories as they played them with the South Korean heartthrob.</p><p>In one of the segments from his recent “Minhoverse” fan meeting at the Mall of Asia Arena, Min-ho went up against two of his fans in a game of “tumbang preso,” where players try to knock down a can by throwing a slipper.</p><p>The first fan, who admitted it had been several years since she last played the game, missed on her first try. But on her second attempt, she managed to knock one can down, earning an enthusiastic clap and a high five from the actor that sent the entire venue into giddy screams. In the end, she scored just one point.</p><p>It took a while for the second fan, who identified herself as an admin of one of Min-ho’s local fan bases, to start playing. Visibly shy in front of the actor, she looked away and clung to event host Kring Kim when Min-ho told her, “Nice to meet you,” prompting laughter even from the actor himself. When he tapped her on the back, she appeared more surprised, stepping away further as she still refused to look and held onto Kring tightly.</p><p>“I have a question. You like him, right?” Kring asked, to which the fan loudly replied into the mic, “So much!”. Kring then teased, “Then why can&#x27;t you look at him?”, prompting another round of laughter from Min-ho.</p><p>Like the first fan, the second fan also scored only one point. At one of her failed attempts, Kring remarked in jest, “Talagang kapag may mga gwapo sa harap, nawawala ka talaga sa sarili mo ‘no?”</p><p>(It’s true that when there are handsome guys in front of you, you totally lose yourself, right?)</p><p>Ultimately, Min-ho, who was the last to play after his fans, emerged as the winner after taking down two cans. Still, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that his fans were winners in their own right, thanks to their enviable interactions with the 37-year-old star, who even gave each of them a hug before they left the stage.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17466887668512R4A4924.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>In the next game, a fan was challenged to pop as many balloons as she could with Min-ho in just 30 seconds. But instead of sitting on them, as is often done at local parties, the twist required her to squeeze the balloons while facing the actor — a revelation that had the fan all giddy, stomping her feet in excitement. </p><p>She eventually chose to pop the balloons by squeezing them against the side of their bodies, which still required Min-ho to pull her closer to him. After the game, the fan admitted she felt nervous but was “very much happy” to have been so close to the star.</p><p>The games were a definite highlight of the space-themed fan meeting, turning the venue into a lively arena filled with laughter and excited cheers as Min-ho interacted with his Filipino supporters, creating moments that sparked undeniable “kilig” — that feeling of excitement often inspired by a romantic encounter.</p><p>Min-ho is no stranger to eliciting <em>kilig </em>from his Filipino fans. In fact, he has been capturing the hearts of local audiences since his breakout role as Gu Jun-pyo in the immensely popular 2009 drama “Boys Over Flowers,” which aired on ABS-CBN. His following only continued to grow with subsequent hit dramas such as “City Hunter,” “The Heirs,” and “The Legend of the Blue Sea.”</p><div><strong>Effortlessly charming</strong></div><p>That evening, however, Min-ho wasn’t making his Filipino fans feel <em>kilig </em>through their television screens or smartphones. He wasn’t playing a character, either. He was there in the flesh, effortlessly charming as himself. Throughout the event, audience members and media colleagues nearby couldn’t help but gush, remarking, “Ang pogi!” or “Ang gwapo!” (handsome).</p><p>“It’s been a while, everyone. I really missed all of you,” Min-ho, who<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/10/16/23/what-lee-min-ho-missed-about-the-philippines"><strong> last visited the Philippines in October 2023</strong></a>, said through an interpreter before speaking in Filipino: “Na-miss ko kayo (I missed you guys).”</p><p>Fans got to know more about the Korean superstar through the show’s various segments. When asked, for instance, what word comes to mind when he thinks of his Filipino fans, he answered, “Passion,” prompting deafening shrieks from the crowd.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17466887779924F2A0380.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>He also expressed his desire to explore the different islands of the Philippines. While famed tourist destinations like Boracay and Cebu were a given, Min-ho said, “I really want to go somewhere that&#x27;s very unknown and unpopular yet.”</p><p>Fans also learned that his MBTI personality type is ENTP. When asked if there was a single role he felt resembled him the most, Min-ho shared, “Each character I&#x27;ve portrayed, there&#x27;s a little bit of myself on it.”</p><p>He also believes sleep is the most important way to relieve stress. “You really need to sleep properly. I arrived [in Manila] two nights ago and I slept soundly for 15 hours,” he shared.</p><p>Min-ho’s engaging personality also shone through as he expressed genuine curiosity about his fans&#x27; preferences and the local culture. At times, he would turn questions asked of him back to the audience, such as asking which of his characters they liked best. While discussing his confession scenes in romance dramas, he inquired about how Filipinos prefer romantic confessions.</p><p>The actor also asked whether the MBTI personality trend, which is popular in South Korea, had caught on in the Philippines as well.</p><p>He also expressed interest in the local language, asking the host to explain the difference between “Mahal kita” (I love you) and “Mahal ko kayo” (I love you guys). </p><p>At one point, he asked how to say “Let’s go home together?” in Filipino, then delivered the line in a deeper voice and a flirty tone: “Uwi tayo sa bahay ko?” — a moment that visibly made Kring feel <em>kilig</em>. He also picked up the phrase “Iuuwi kita” (I will take you home), even standing up and jokingly pretending to pull Kring along as he said it.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17466887911704F2A9922_re.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong>Performances</strong></div><p>Min-ho also treated the audience to a series of songs, backed by a live band. His performances featured a mix of tender ballads, including “I Love You” and “Always,” as well as slow rock anthems like “Without You.”</p><p>He also amped up the energy with the lively “Stalker,” where he jumped and twirled, hyping the crowd up.</p><p>Min-ho wrapped up the two-hour event (presented by PULP Live World) with a cover of Nerd Connection’s “Good Night Good Dream.”</p><p>But before the event concluded, Min-ho thanked his fans for the warm welcome he received upon his return after two years.</p><p>“I do realize that each year that passes by, this unconditional love that you give me, it really means a lot,” he said.</p><p>“With the love that you have given me unconditionally, it really makes me a better person and better actor to portray better roles for all of you. It really encourages me a lot. Mahal kita.”</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y2TVlN_3tLQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Mall of Asia Arena was filled with laughter and giddy cheers as Lee Min-ho playfully engaged with his Filipino supporters for his 'Minhoverse' fan meeting in Manila.</p>

The Mall of Asia Arena was filled with laughter and giddy cheers as Lee Min-ho playfully engaged with his Filipino supporters for his 'Minhoverse' fan meeting in Manila.