Korean star Jung Hae-in spent a meaningful yuletide season by meeting his Filipino fans in Manila.
Jung Hae-in, who starred in dramas such as “D.P.,” “Love Next Door,” “Snowdrop,” “One Spring Night,” “Prison Playbook” and “Something in the Rain,” wrapped up 2024 by holding his “Our Time” Fanmeeting in Manila on Dec. 21 at the New Frontier Theater.
The 36-year-old actor is ending 2024 with two hit acting projects.
His movie “Veteran 2” (aka “I, the Executioner”), together with actor Hwang Jung-min, sold 7.52 million tickets and grossed $49.99 million at the box office in South Korea, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), which tracks box office receipts.
“Veteran 2” is currently at No. 4 on the list of the top films of 2024 in South Korea based on the number of tickets sold.
In addition, Jung Hae-in’s drama “Love Next Door,” together with actress Jung So-min, spent 11 weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10.
In Manila, he opened his fan meeting by performing “The Truth,” an original soundtrack (OST) from his 2024 tvN-Netflix drama “Love Next Door,” and greeted fans in Filipino.
Korean star Jung Hae-in at his “Our Time” Fanmeeting in Manila on Dec. 21 at the New Frontier Theater (Photos courtesy of John Alvin Novero / Philippine K-pop Convention Inc.)
“Kamusta kayo? Ang tagal nating hindi nagkita Na-miss nyo ba ako? Na-miss ko rin kayo. Masaya akong makita kayong muli. (How are you? It's been a while since we last saw each other. Did you miss me? I also missed you. I am happy to see you again),” he said.
He said the fan meeting name “Our Time” meant that “we’re having the fan meeting annually so for the rest of the year, we are spending our own time but today we are having ‘Our Time.’”
Jung Hae-in, who won best actor for his outstanding performance in Nefflix’s “D.P.” at the Asian Academy Creative Awards and APAN Star Awards, had fun at the fan meeting, answering questions from fans and playing games.
During the "Our Time" segment, he was asked which among his acting projects he would like to have a remake together in the Philippines together with a Filipino actor or actress.
He answered the 2024 box office hit film "Veteran 2," saying, “If I were to film together with a Filipino actor, maybe we can have that actor to play the villain and maybe we can collaborate to film a movie together and I guess that will be interesting.”
Among "Veteran 2," "Love Next Door," "One Spring Night" and “Something in the Rain,” he said filming “Veteran 2” was the most physically challenging as this was an action movie.
Jung Hae-in answers questions from the Philippine media at his press conference on Dec. 20 at the Ayala Malls Market! Market! In Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (Photos by Jonathan Hicap)
A day before his fan meeting, Jung Hae-in held a press conference at the Ayala Malls Market! Market! In Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
A huge crowd gathered to see him at the event where he answered questions from the Philippine media.
This was Jung Hae-in’s fourth fan meeting in Manila in six years. His first was the “Smile” fan meeting in June 2018, followed by “One Summer Night” in September 2019, and “The 10th Season” in August last year.
Jung Hae-in said he always felt good coming to the Philippines.
“Whenever I come here, it’s really nice. I like it so much. Thank you for your warm welcome,” he said.
He added that he was also surprised that “Love Next Door” became popular.
“Honestly I didn’t expect that ‘Love Next Door’ would receive this much love when we were filming it. We did our very best without any expectations when we were filming the drama,” he said.
Jung Hae-in is also known for his great body and in “Love Next Door” he was a swimmer.
“I am always working out. Even today, immediately after I arrived in the Philippines and in the hotel, I went to the gym,” he said.
He confessed that he didn’t know how to swim, saying, “For ‘Love Next Door,’ I especially trained for it to learn how to swim. I’m not afraid of the water anymore.”
Korean star Jung Hae-in at his “Our Time” Fanmeeting in Manila on Dec. 21 at the New Frontier Theater (Photos courtesy of John Alvin Novero / Philippine K-pop Convention Inc.)
In choosing roles or characters for a project, he said, “It’s very important for me to draw it out in my head to know if I could play it. But for characters I thought that I could not do, I challenged myself because I know that it will be rewarding later on.”
To date, he said, his favorite role that he has portrayed is Choi Seung-hyo in “Love Next Door.” He said in 2024, the most challenging part was filming “Veteran 2.”
Jung Hae-in said he is already looking at scripts for his next dramas and movies next year.
Throughout his career, he has portrayed many roles in different acting genres but said that he thinks that he is most loved when he stars in romantic comedies.
As the year is about to end, Manila Bulletin asked Jung Hae-in his New Year’s wish.
“2024 is about to end and my goals for 2025 are the same as in 2024. It’s unavoidable to get hurt physically or mentally but I hope even if that happens, it will not be severe. I think everyone’s goal should be that we should have our health as our main priority,” said Jung Hae-in.
He said he will be spending Christmas with his family.
“For Christmas, I will be spending it with my family. And I also made a promise to my fans. I think I will do a live broadcast on Christmas. Merry Christmas!” he said.
The Jung Hae-in “Our Time” Fanmeeting in Manila was presented by CDM Entertainment and FNC Entertainment.
Jung Hae-in answers questions from the Philippine media at his press conference on Dec. 20 at the Ayala Malls Market! Market! In Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (Photos by Jonathan Hicap)