From theater to television star, Kim Seon-ho has emerged as one of South Korea’s most promising talents, captivating audiences everywhere with his innocent charm and phenomenal acting skills.

The artist, who rose to fame for his portrayal of Han Ji-Pyeong in the 2020 drama Start-Up, paid the Philippines a visit over the weekend to meet with his supporters in “Love to Meet Our Good Boy,” organized by Filipino lifestyle superbrand Bench.

Before his fan meet at the Araneta Coliseum on July 22, Kim Seon-ho appeared before the media at the Grand Hyatt Manila. That morning, the South Korean icon came in a black and white checkered button-up short-sleeve polo matched with a plain white inner shirt and black straight-cut jeans, all from the local brand. “These [clothes] are comfortable and stylish, which is why I’m able to use Bench products daily,” commented Kim Seon Ho on his outfit.

Asked what new experience he would like to try for his second visit to the Philippines, the 37-year-old actor responded, “The last time I was here, I was unable to go to a lot of places. This time, I want to try halo-halo. I’m very curious about it.” The South Korean heartthrob first came to the Philippines earlier this year, in January, for his “One, Two, Three, Smile” Asian tour. Kim Seon-ho then expressed how he felt both nervous and excited about his current Philippine trip. He also shared how fond he was of his huge billboards along the riverside in Makati. Photos of the actor all smiles, posing next to the series of outdoor ads, have since gone viral and garnered several reactions from his Filipino fans like celebrities Dianne Medina and Jed Madela.

“When I met with the personal staff and chairman Ben Chan, they immediately treated me like family,” said the global Benchsetter who was officially welcomed by Bench as an ambassador on Aug. 28 last year. “Maybe that’s the reason Bench is successful because Mr. Chairman himself is a trendsetter and very fashionable.”

Kim Seon-ho made his debut supporting role on screen as Sun Sang-tae in the 2017 series Good Manager. He starred in the same year as Gong Su-chang in the action comedy Two Cops, which earned him two 2017 MBC Drama Awards. He was part of the cast in 100 Days My Prince, regarded as one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable history. His other works include You Drive Me Crazy, Welcome to Waikiki 2, Catch the Ghost, and 2 Days & 1 Night, among others.

“I try to get a lot of references before I get into character,” said Kim Seon-ho on how he does characterization. He prepares for a role for a month or two, conversing with the directors to understand their expectations. He did the same process for his first and latest film The Childe, a neo-noir action movie set in the Philippines.“I studied Stanley Kubrick and a lot of action moves.”

On how he retains his individuality, Kim Seon-ho said, “There’s a lot of characters, there’s so much versatility to a lot of characters, but the character starts from me. Just like clothing, if someone wears it, it’s kind of a different look and style from when I wear it.”

But among the characters he’s played, Kim Seon-ho connects most with Hong Du-sik of Hometown Cha-cha-cha. “He [Hong Du-sik] likes conversing with people. He has a light personality. I think I am similar to him.” Kim Seon-ho added that his favorite scenes are made up of dialogues. “I appreciate the scenes where I’m having conversations and showing people my ordinary side.” In that regard, he promised to learn more Filipino words.

“When I was younger I thought I was good at drawing. It seems that wasn’t the case,” answered Kim Seon-ho when asked about his secret talent. “Today, I am still looking for a hidden talent.”

On his hobbies, Kim Seon-ho shared that he enjoys walking. “While walking, I like to think about my day and I also make sure I see what’s happening around in society.” Kim Seon-ho ends the press conference by describing himself as a lazy actor, saying so in pursuit of becoming a better performer every day.