K-pop boy band SHINee member Choi Minho reconnected with Filipino fans in his first solo event in the country.
On Jan. 28, he held his “2023 Best Choi’s Minho: Lucky Choi’s in Manila” fan meeting at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Hello, Philippines. Long time no see,” Minho greeted the crowd.
It was nearly five years ago when Minho hosted and performed with SHINee at the “One K 2017 Global Peace Concert” in Manila in March 2017.
SHINee, including Minho, first visited Manila 13 years ago when they performed at the Philippines-Korea Friendship Festival held on Nov. 27, 2009 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). SHINee debuted in May 2008.
After the 2017 event, Minho came back to the Philippines with his first solo fan meeting.
“I’m so excited for my first solo fan meeting, especially here in the Philippines. For this excitement, I have prepared a lot for you,” he said.
The Philippines was the first country for his solo fan meeting outside Korea. .
“First of all, I have made the subtitle ‘Best Choi’s, Lucky Choi’s’ and I’m very glad that the first country I got to visit after my first fan meeting in Seoul is the Philippines,” he said.
Minho opened the fan meeting with a performance of “Heartbreak,” a song from his debut mini-album “Chase” that was released last December.
In one segment, Minho wore a Barong Tagalog used by Filipino men in formal occasions.
“This is the first time I am wearing Barong Tagalog and knowing that this is such beautiful clothing, I think this is also meaningful for me. I feel such honor that I got to wear this Barong Tagalog,” he said.
In the Lucky Moment segment, Minho acted scenes from Korean dramas that fans would probably want to see him appear in. These include “Descendants of the Sun” and “Alchemy of Souls.”
Minho also did the “Dati-Dati Dance Challenge” by Sarah Geronimo. He also performed songs including “Chase,” “Runaway” and a SHINee medley.
In another portion of the fan meeting, he was asked his recommendation if Filipino fans came to South Korea.
Minho recommended going to Seoul and to “Kwangya,” his company, referring to SM Entertainment and eating “kimbap” and “samgyupsal.”
“If you go to our company, there is something there that looks like me. So you will feel that you already took a picture with me,” he said.
In the end, Minho expressed his gratitude to the people who went to the fan meeting.
“I first think that it is destiny that we go to meet each other again and I really had a good time today,” he said.
Minho added, “Thank you all for having time with me today. I will also make sure that next time I’ll come with the other members and show you a good performance.”
“Until then I hope you stay healthy and always have good memories. Let’s meet again. See you again,” Minho bid his goodbye to the fans.
The “2023 Best Choi’s Minho: Lucky Choi’s in Manila” fan meeting was presented by Ovation Productions.