Ju Ji Hoon, up close and personal! My heart skipped, my voice squealed, and fangirl mode was officially activated. Read my blog for all the moments!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

August 07, 2025
Batangas, Philippines

Event: Ju Ji Hoon Fan Meeting
Date: August 2, 2025
Venue: Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila
Cost: PHP 10,800

I’ve always been curious about what really happens at fan meetings and what it would feel like to attend one in person. For the longest time, I thought it wasn’t something I’d ever go out of my way to experience. I used to see clips of fan meets online – actors playing games, answering a few questions, doing some quick interactions with the crowd and I genuinely thought it wasn’t worth the time or money. It felt too staged, too distant, and honestly, I didn’t see the appeal. I told myself it just wasn’t for me.

But Ju Ji Hoon’s fan meet completely changed that mindset.

Ju Ji Hoon is a renowned South Korean actor who recently took home the Best Actor Award at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, one of the most prestigious award-giving bodies in Korea. He’s best known for his iconic roles in Princess Hours (Goong), Kingdom, Along With the Gods, Lightshop, Love Your Enemy, and most recently, Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, among many others.

I first discovered him during my college days, right at the peak of Princess Hours fever. I was in my second year, eagerly waiting for it to air every night on our local channel, ABS-CBN. This was way before the era of streaming platforms like Netflix so we had to catch each episode live on TV, no replays, no rewatch buttons. It was truly a different kind of fangirl experience.

For years, I didn’t really follow K-dramas or K-pop. But something changed after I visited South Korea last December. That trip opened the door for me and from then on, I found myself slowly pulled into the world of Korean entertainment. Maybe I’m late to the party, but once you get into it, it’s easy to understand why it’s so addictive.

My friends are fans of Ju Ji Hoon too, especially my sister-in-law, who knows just how much I adore him. As a surprise, she gifted me a ticket to his fan meet. I couldn’t believe it. What I didn’t know at the time was that this would turn out to be the best gift and one of the most unforgettable shows I’ve ever received. Thanks, pretty sissy!

If you’ve ever been curious about how fan meetings work, here’s a quick overview: you purchase a ticket, and depending on the tier or seat category, you may receive various fan benefits. I was fortunate to be given a Diamond ticket, which was the highest tier available for this event. It included a group photo with Ju Ji Hoon, a signed photocard, and eligibility for additional perks through a raffle.

Fan meets typically follow a fun and interactive format. There are segments where the actor plays games with the audience, answers fan-submitted questions, and watches video tributes created by fans. These moments are often heartfelt and emotional. To top it all off, the actor usually performs a song or two as a gesture of appreciation a sweet ending to a truly personal and unforgettable event.

But what truly stood out and what I want to highlight is how Ju Ji Hoon set the bar for fan interaction among K-drama actors. He redefined what it means to connect with fans. He is, without a doubt, the king of fan service. In Korean culture, fan service refers to the thoughtful gestures idols or celebrities do to delight and engage their supporters, and Ju Ji Hoon went above and beyond in every sense.

Photo Op

I went to Newport, the venue feeling excited and made sure I really got ready for this photo op with him and we were advised (I followed jujihoonph instructions and Wilbros) regarding the time on when I should be around for the photo op. I was already there by 2pm and had lunch first in Parmigiano, ordered pasta and then went to the theatre to register for the photo session by 3:00pm. By then, they were already handing out freebies for the event the Ju Ji Hoon placard which was actually sponsored by fans who had a donation drive to make this event more meaningful. There were decoration in the theatre as well and I made sure to snap photos before it can get crowded. After that I went to Coffee Bean ordered iced americano so I can charge my phone, good thing they have charging ports and I bought a charger because I forgot to bring powerbank.

By 4:00 PM, we were already lining up for the group photoshoot, and I could barely contain my excitement. While waiting, I met a fellow fan named Melai, and we instantly bonded over our shared anticipation. We were both beyond thrilled.

Just a quick note for anyone attending a fan meet: photography isn’t allowed during the official photoshoot. But even before our turn, we caught a glimpse of Ju Ji Hoon, and he was all smiles, effortlessly charming and warm. Seeing him in person was surreal.

When it was finally our group’s turn, we weren’t allowed to choose our seats, which made sense since everyone would probably try to sit right next to him. Each photo was taken with 20 people, but what truly made the moment special was how he treated each one of us. He didn’t just go through the motions. He shook hands with everyone, looking each of us in the eye. And it wasn’t just a polite tap or a rushed gesture. He firmly, sincerely held our hands like a real person connecting with real people.

I couldn’t stop smiling. For a moment, I thought, this is what it feels like to be noticed and appreciated by your idol. It was pure joy and honestly a little overwhelming in the best way possible.

1st Segment

Before the event began, boards were placed outside the venue where fans could submit questions for Ju Ji Hoon. There were also areas where we could vote for our favorite K-drama lines that we wanted him to say and choose which genre we’d like to see him take on next. At the time, I thought it was just a fun pre-show activity, so I was pleasantly surprised when the results were actually featured during the first segment of the show with Ji Hoon on stage. It turned out to be a simple yet thoughtful way to include the audience in the program.

By 6:00 PM, we had already entered the theater. I really liked the venue it had a cozy, intimate feel, and my seat was surprisingly close to the stage. The show officially kicked off around 6:20 PM with Ju Ji Hoon performing “Relieved,” a song originally by Korean artist Lee Juck. After his performance, host Sam Oh introduced the next part of the program called JuTube, which featured themed topics based on keywords submitted by fans. (By the way, I have a ton of videos I’ll be uploading on YouTube soon.)

The first topic was Mukjihoon, where Ju Ji Hoon talked about his favorite food. He shared that he always makes it a point to visit local markets whenever he travels. He mentioned trying fried rice, halo-halo, and crispy pata, which is a deep-fried pork knuckle.

Next was Tagaljihoon, a crowd favorite that had everyone screaming with excitement. This was when he spoke a few Tagalog phrases that instantly made everyone kilig. He charmed the whole room by saying “Mahal kita” (I love you), “Miss na kita” (I miss you), and “Ang ganda mo” (You’re beautiful). He even pointed to someone in the audience while saying the last one, and I completely lost it — you can hear me screaming in all my videos because I couldn’t contain my joy.

During this segment, they also announced that random seat numbers would be drawn for fans to come onstage. Some lucky audience members were picked to do aegyo, which are cute or charming actions in Korean culture. At first, the idea of being called was terrifying, but seeing how sweet and gentle Ju Ji Hoon was with everyone — giving hugs, posing for selfies, and interacting so kindly — made me secretly hope my number would be picked too.

The segment ended with ChillJihoon, where one lucky fan got to take playful selfies with him based on Zootopia characters. I was seriously so envious. Their interaction was adorable, and Ju Ji Hoon was so game for everything, even doing aegyo together. Just watching them made me feel incredibly happy.
*Photos grabbed from Wilbros Live FB page

The Juniverse Awards

The energy in the theater went through the roof as we entered this next segment. This was when the fan polls were revealed on screen, using the responses we had written on the boards outside. Ju Ji Hoon got to read the top answers, and it was such a fun and interactive moment.

The first question was, “How do you feel when you see Ju Ji Hoon in person?” and the top answer was hilarious: “When you look him in the eyes… system error.” Ju Ji Hoon laughed and shared that people often comment on how tall and dark he is. He joked that being tall has its perks, like reaching the top shelf, but the downside is that clothes don’t always fit him properly.

In a fun twist, one fan was brought on stage to compare their height with him, and another was chosen to do a staring contest. At one point, Ju Ji Hoon even gently touched the fan’s face like he was about to kiss her the entire crowd went wild. It was pure chaos and kilig, and I was screaming inside. I swear, I was so jealous but also so happy just witnessing it. I kept thinking, “I wish it was meeee!”

The second question was, “What is the most iconic line you want to hear from Baek Kang Hyuk?” The winning answer was none other than “Shut up,” and the moment Ju Ji Hoon delivered it exactly the way he did in Trauma Code, the entire audience erupted. It was so fun hearing him say it live — everyone completely lost it.

When asked about his personal favorite line, he didn’t choose one from Trauma Code but instead picked a memorable quote from Goong (Princess Hours), the drama that first made him a household name. He said it was, “You’re the first woman who made me feel like this.” Hearing that felt so nostalgic and made longtime fans swoon all over again.

The final question was, “What genre would you like Ju Ji Hoon to play next?” The majority of fans voted for romantic comedy, but Ju Ji Hoon revealed that he personally leans more toward black comedy a genre he finds intriguing and would love to explore further.

THINKERVERSE SEGMENT

This segment featured the board filled with fan-submitted questions, which was brought up on stage. The board was covered in colorful post-its where we had written our questions along with our seat numbers. Ju Ji Hoon and the MC took turns picking from the board, and what made it extra special was that Ji Hoon personally asked the fans whose questions were chosen to come up on stage and each one received a warm hug from him.

One particularly heartwarming moment came when a fan from Bangkok shared that it was her birthday. Not only did Ji Hoon sing for her, but he also invited her up on stage and gave her a sincere, comforting hug. It was such a thoughtful and touching gesture.

When asked, “What little things make you happy?” Ji Hoon smiled and answered, “You.” The crowd collectively swooned the kilig was real!

Before wrapping up the segment, he gave us a sneak peek into his upcoming projects. One is a dark, politically themed series, and the other is an adaptation of a webtoon that’s currently in the works. He’s clearly been busy, and I honestly can’t wait to see him in these new roles.

Second Segment

After a short break, the session resumed and this time, Ju Ji Hoon took the fan experience to a whole new level. As “Perhaps Love,” the iconic soundtrack from Princess Hours, played in the background, he walked through the crowd, shaking hands, smiling, and taking selfies with fans. It was absolutely surreal. I have never seen a K-drama actor do something like that. It was the kind of moment every fan dreams of, to have their idol come so close. Ju Ji Hoon truly stood out, and I felt incredibly lucky to witness it. It honestly felt like we got so much more than what we paid for.

However, I do wish that part had been more organized. Things got a little chaotic, and you could see Ju Ji Hoon was getting tired. At one point, he even commented that it was “magulo,” meaning messy or unorganized, but he still made sure to check if everyone was okay. Despite the situation, he continued smiling, interacting with fans, and taking selfies. He didn’t hold back at all. He gave us everything and more. He is genuinely one of the best.

Next, he played games with fans, dividing the audience into three teams with three players each, with the participants chosen by picking seat numbers from the box. They competed in a series of fun challenges like Pirate Roulette, One Mind One Body — where all three had to stand on one piece of paper for five seconds and a three-legged race. The entire segment was hilarious and full of energy. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves. What made it even better was that whether you won or lost, you still got a selfie and a hug from Ju Ji Hoon. The winning team received a signed poster, but honestly, with Ju Ji Hoon, everyone felt like a winner.

One of the last games was called Jutorial, a trivia segment that tested how well fans knew him. One question asked what he could tolerate more — warm beer or no air conditioning in hot weather. He chose no air conditioning and mentioned that South Korea is currently so hot, he actually prefers the weather in the Philippines. Fans started teasing him to just stay here, and he laughed, saying he had to go back to finish the projects he’s been working on for his fans. He was so effortlessly charming.

The winners of the game included two kids who were brought by their moms. It was the sweetest thing watching Ju Ji Hoon take selfies with the kids, give them signed Polaroids, and even kiss them on the cheek. My heart melted, I seriously wished I were a kid too!

After that, he walked across the entire stage so every corner of the venue could see him — waving, smiling, and throwing flying kisses like the charming king he is! Sobrang nakakakilig, I swear!

Before the night ended, a fan-made video was shown. I honestly wish I had participated, but I was too shy. I’m definitely contributing next time through their fan page. Ju Ji Hoon looked so touched and nostalgic watching it, especially when his 24-year-old self appeared on screen. He was visibly moved and deeply thankful for all the love.

As the event neared its end, Ju Ji Hoon made sure to gather everyone for a group photo, such a wonderful way to remember the night.

He wrapped up with a beautiful song, “Pretty” by Song Kwang Ho. Even if you didn’t understand the Korean lyrics, Tagalog subtitles were displayed on the screen. He dedicated the song to his fans, and it was the perfect, emotional ending to a night we’ll never forget.

*Photos below grabbed from Wilbros Live FB page

CONCLUSION

I’m still on cloud nine just thinking about it. I can’t believe I got to witness this in real life — my very first fan meet, and it was with none other than Ju Ji Hoon! He completely blew me away and gave so much more than I ever dreamed of. He didn’t just meet expectations, he shattered them in the best way possible.

What made it even more special was how diverse the crowd was. From kids to those who’ve followed Ji Hoon since his early Goong days, everyone came together to celebrate him. People of all ages and backgrounds, men and women alike, were swooning. There were even fans who flew in from different countries just to be part of this unforgettable moment proof of how loved he is around the world.

Ju Ji Hoon has set the standard for what a K-drama actor and fan service king should be. You could feel his sincerity in every gesture, every smile, and every word. That kind of warmth and authenticity is rare. While many Korean actors tend to be more reserved, Ji Hoon was funny, sweet, incredibly present, and so generous with his time and energy. Nakakakilig sobra! My heart is still overflowing.

This is the kind of artist I’ll support again and again with no hesitation. He’s one of a kind, and I’m beyond happy and proud to be his fan.

I love you so much, Ju Ji Hoon! Saranghae! Kamsahamnida! Please come back soon! I’ll be waiting! 🥹🫶💖

After the fan meet, I headed home to be with my dogs but made a quick stop at Coffee Bean to recharge my phone. While I was there, I exchanged details with Melai, a fellow Ju Ji Hoon fan I had just met. It made me so happy to find a new chingu through this experience — it was the perfect ending to such a magical night.

Love,
Maria,sometimes,Niskie