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Korean star Hyun Bin talks about his first visit to PH, career, role as Solaire ambassador
Korean star Hyun Bin talks about his first visit to PH, career, role as Solaire ambassador
Korean star Hyun Bin of the hit drama “Crash Landing on You” was amazed at his first visit to the Philippines.
“Captain Ri” held a Meet & Greet event with fans at Solaire Resort Entertainment City on Aug. 8.
Before the event, Hyun Bin met the media in a press conference at the Solaire Resort Grand Ballroom.
During the press conference, he talked about being the Solaire Resort ambassador, his first visit to the country, his upcoming drama and career.
Hyun Bin’s career got a big boost when he starred with Son Ye-jin in the 2019-2020 Korean drama “Crash Landing on You,” which currently holds the record as the fifth highest rated cable TV drama in history in South Korea.
Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, fondly called the BinJin couple, got married in a lavish wedding in March 2022.
After more than five years since the release of “Crash Landing on You,” Hyun Bin will be starring in the Disney+ drama “Made in Korea” slated to premiere this year.
Hyun Bin said the Philippines was on his list of countries that he wanted to visit.
“The Philippines was always on my list to visit. And I did not have so much time yet to go around and kind of experience the Philippines. But, you know, the way they have welcomed me here in the Philippines is really, really heartwarming. It’s more amazing than I expected,” he said.
He added, “And also what I'm really surprised about, one thing that I'm really surprised about is the warm hospitality of how they welcomed me into the Philippines and of course the bright energy that I have witnessed.”
After the press conference, Hyun Bin met Filipino fans in Meet & Greet at Solaire.
“I already had an idea that there are Filipino fans. I have fans here in the Philippines who have been loving me so much and supporting me so much. Finally meeting them, I am very, very excited and I'm looking forward to it and looking forward to what they will be doing together tonight,” he said.
Many Filipino fans have supported Hyun Bin’s career and projects.
“No words can explain how I feel. I'm very speechless about the amount of love and support I received. And, of course, I'm very grateful, very thankful for all the love and support. And that becomes my strength to become a better actor as well. And so in each and every project, the love and support that the fans give me is definitely going to be a strength for all of my career,” he said.
Solaire ambassador
Beyond his roles in dramas and movies, Hyun Bin said this time, he wants to show Filipino fans his side of him as an ambassador of Solaire Resort.
"Of course, I have to show you the side of myself as a Solaire ambassador. And now that I'm here in the Philippines, I got to meet the fans as well, and I would like to give the vibe that we're closer now, and I would like to give kind of like a comfortable vibe as well to the Filipino fans,” said Hyun Bin.
He said he felt happy when he arrived at Solaire Resort.
“First of all, I think I'm spending my time in a comfortable and happy mood because of Solaire. And when I first came, when I entered Solaire, I was really surprised about the capacity and how big this Solaire is and of course the luxury and the prestige vibe that I have witnessed here in Solaire. I was really surprised with it,” he said.
He added, “And also another thing that I was surprised about were the staff of Solaire as well, how detailed they are when welcoming guests. That's what I was also surprised about. And of course, we cannot forget to talk about the room as well. When I first entered it, I was really surprised about the view that I had with the room. And, of course, it was very comfy. I had a very comfy vibe when I entered the room as well. And it was a private space.”
“So with the help of the prestigious and comfortable room of Solaire, I was able to get a very good relaxing break. And I also had a meal. It was very delicious and amazing. I got a suggestion, a recommendation for Filipino food, which was adobo. It was very delicious and I enjoyed it,” he said.
Hyun Bin said when he thinks of Solaire, “it's more than just an ordinary resort, but it's a place where we can make experiences or make memories. And I always thought that I want to let more people know about the Solaire Resort where it's a place for people to experience as well and also witness these kinds of amazing things about Solaire Resort.”
Travel
Hyun Bin picked three fashion accessories when he traveled to the Philippines: “Well, first I have the watch on and I have sunglasses. And lastly, it would be the cap that I brought.”
He revealed that he always brings supplements when he travels.
“I always take supplements. You know, the vitamins. I always take it. And if I don't have any social schedules or hectic schedules, I always make sure that I perspire, I sweat. I go and work out before going to work. And there's really nothing that is surprising for me to tell you. And for sure, for this time, I brought supplements too,” he said.
Career
Hyun Bin said he gets most of his inspiration “from speaking to a lot of people, communicating with strangers as well, each and every one of them. That's when I got inspiration recently.”
“And in the latter part of this year, I will be able to meet you guys again in a project, an OTT platform in Disney+, and the project is called ‘Made in Korea,’” he said.
On what advice would he give his younger self when he was just starting his career as an actor, he said, “You can still enjoy in that moment. And that's one message that I want to tell myself in the past.”
“Now that I'm looking back at whatever is happening, I've only been going straight, not minding whatever is on my side, but really focusing on the work. So I really don't have time to look around and enjoy whatever sceneries that I can enjoy. So if I were to tell myself in the past, I would tell him to enjoy the moment and enjoy the crowd, the surroundings, rather than just going forward or towards your goal,” he said.
Hyun Bin debuted as an actor in the 2003 TV series “Bodyguard.” Since then, he has starred in different projects including the hit drama “My Lovely Sam-soon’ opposite Kim Sun-a in the title role.
He also starred in “The Negotiation,” “Harbin,” “Secret Garden,” and “Memories of the Alhambra.”
Hyun Bin said “there are roles that I haven't tried and the roles that I have tried. So the roles that I haven’t tried yet are the roles that I want to be challenged with and of course try as well.”
If he could swap places with any K-drama character for a day, Hyun Bin he would swap with Kim Joo-won, his character in the 2011 drama “Secret Garden.”
“Of course, I have to choose from the characters I have played, so I would like to choose the Kim Joo-won act of the ‘Secret Garden.’ You know, the character, as you know, has a very spectacular life, a roller-coaster life. So I want to try living that life as well,” he said.
If he is given the chance to direct his own movie, he said, “You know, I've really never thought about myself producing or thinking about this question, but if I were given the opportunity, then I want to have something that has a plot twist.”
The popularity of Korean dramas has surged worldwide in recent years, especially with the help of global streaming platforms like Prime Video, Netflix and Disney+.
Hyun Bin said, “You know, when it comes to Korean storytelling, I think it's because the fans or the people who are watching are really interested and they're really fond of watching the storytelling.”
“And, of course, that is the video side where all the staff are really working hard to give the masterpiece of art. And of course, on top of that is the director who would produce the storytelling. And I am just an actor who's just portraying and just playing the role with sincerity to put out the storytelling to the people who's watching. So that's how I think about Korean storytelling,” he said.
As the press conference ended, Hyun Bin thanked the country for the warm welcome he received.
“The unconditional and unchanging love and support that I received from the Filipino fans. I'm really, really grateful and honored to have this kind of support. And with that love, I would like to return it back to you, to the Filipino fans with more projects, and, of course, a better actor as well. So thank you, thank you so much for all your love and support,” he said.