Youngjae, member of K-pop boy band GOT7, got to meet Filipino fans again in back-to-back events in one day.
Last June, Youngjae released his second mini-album “Sugar.” To promote the album, Youngjae returned to Manila with a mini-concert and fan signing events held on July 23 at the New Frontier Theater.
Youngjae opened his “Sugar in Manila” mini-concert by performing “Tasty,” a song in his “Colors from Ars” album, and “Focus” from his “Sugar” album.
“I’ve been practicing and looking forward to coming here in Manila. It feels so amazing. It is so beautiful,” Youngjae told fans at his “Sugar in Manila” mini-concert.
It’s been two years and nine months since Youngjae’s last visit to Manila. It was in October 2019 when GOT7 held their “Keep Spinning 2019 World Tour” concert in Manila. At the time, Youngjae said, “Magkikita ulit tayo sa susunod. Mahal ko kayo (We’ll see each other next time. I love you).”
At the mini-concert, Youngjae, “It’s really unbelievable that I’m doing this right now.”
When asked how he prepared for the concert, Youngjae said, “Actually I was sick very recently so in order for me to practice after my radio-DJ show, I would go and practice right away.”
Youngjae got Covid-19 earlier this month and Yerin, who is also under Sublime Artist and who held a fan signing event in Manila on July 22, substituted as a one-day host of his radio program “GOT7 Youngjae's Best Friend.”
After his arrival in Manila, Youngjae said, “Yesterday, I ate Jollibee. So delicious” as he tried its chicken, spaghetti and peach mango pie. Jollibee is a fast food chain in the Philippines.
He said the last time he was here, he didn’t have leisure time as he and other GOT7 members just stayed in the hotel and held the concert.
“But this time, I had a lot of leisure time, that is why I was able to swing yesterday,” he said.
Youngjae also played games including “Guess the Song” and “Yes or No Quiz.”
One fan named Aiah won a signed poster from Youngjae after she correctly guessed GOT7’s song “Girls Girls Girls.” Aiah said he has been a fan of Youngjae since his debut in GOT7 in 2014.
After this, Youngjae performed “Vibin” and “Sugar.”
Youngjae said the “Philippine mini-concert “was really great. It was perfect. There is one thing that I remember. Oh right. Philippines’ scream was really, really loud.”
About coming back to the Philippines, he said, “I want to do more fun things with Philippine ‘ahgase’ and I’m looking forward to it and I’m prepared for it. I mean it.”
During the concert, a fan project video was shown containing Pinoy fans’ message for Youngjae.
In the video, Pinoy fans stated, “First of all, thank you for coming back here, we missed you a lot. You guys promised that you won't make us wait for another 3 years just to see you guys again and here you are, the first one to come back.”
“Despite the distance, you are the person who gives us strength everyday. For working hard and sharing your music, we are sincerely grateful. You never fail to make us feel loved no matter what and we hope you feel our love back 333 times more. We will love you and we will work with you for a lifetime,” they said.
They added, “Congratulations on Sugar. Congratulations on your mini concert tour. Congratulations Choi Youngjae! You've worked hard. We are proud of you and we will always be with you.”
About the fan project, he said, “I was thinking that maybe if it was like this sweet, I should have come earlier.”
He said with the restrictions on the pandemic now easing, “I think and I promise to come here more often.”
Youngjae then performed “Crema” and GOT7’s “Nanana.”
To wrap up the concert, Youngjae performed GOT7’s “Girls Girls Girls” and did a fan service by coming down to the audience and going around the venue to be close with the fans. After the concert, Youngjae posed for group photos with fans.
Youngjae’s mini-concert and fan signing events were presented by CDM Entertainment.
