South Korean actor Ju Ji-hoon finally met his Filipino fans in person at his first-ever ‘Juniverse’ fan meeting in Manila. The event, presented by Wilbros Live, was held early this month at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City.
Ju Ji-hoon made his debut in 2003 and has since become known for his roles in “Princess Hours,” “Kingdom, Light Shop,” and most recently, “The Trauma Code,” which won him the Best Actor award at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards.
He performed Lee Juck’s bittersweet ballad “It’s Fortunate” to open the fan meet. After the song, he greeted the audience and moved into the first segment, Jutube, where he shared updates about his life. He recalled visiting the Philippines before, trying local dishes such as crispy pata, and learning to cook cold Korean pig trotters.
He then delighted the crowd by speaking Filipino phrases like “miss kita (I miss you),” “ang ganda mo (you are beautiful),” “gigil ako (I can’t contain my excitement,” and “mahal kita (I love you).” Adding to the fun, he posed for Polaroid selfies with a fan dressed as Judy Hopps from Zootopia, a playful nod to his frequent comparison to the character Nick Wilde.
South Korean actor Ju Ji-hoon. PHOTO COURTESY OF WILBROS LIVE
In the Juniverse Awards segment, fans celebrated his most admired qualities and roles. Ju Ji-hoon gamely joined in, comparing his height with attendees and even holding a staring contest on stage. He credited his strong bond with supporters to their unwavering encouragement throughout his career.
Cheers erupted when he reenacted his famous “Shut up” line from The Trauma Code. He also shared another phrase he often says these days: “Believe me, who believes in you,” a reminder of his trust in others. When fans voted on which genre they wanted him to explore next, the majority chose romantic comedy.
The interaction deepened during Thinkerverse, where Ju Ji-hoon read questions fans had written on a community board before the show. He granted requests on the spot, including singing happy birthday to a fan who had flown in for the occasion and recommending books, such as novels by Ekuni Kaori. He also teased upcoming projects, one centered on dark politics and another based on a Webtoon, heightening anticipation for what’s next.
At one point, he invited each fan who asked a question to join him on stage, creating intimate moments that many in the audience wished to experience themselves.
After a short break, he returned with a fresh look and surprised fans by greeting them up close around the theater as “Perhaps Love,” the iconic Princess Hours soundtrack, played.
The excitement continued with Jutopia, a group relay game where teams competed alongside Ju Ji-hoon and later received posters and photos with him.
This was followed by Jutorial, a trivia-style activity involving the entire theater. Questions revealed glimpses into his work habits, such as staying quietly alone before emotional scenes. The segment ended with only a handful of fans remaining on stage, giving them a rare chance to meet the actor face-to-face.
The night ended on a touching note with Ju Ji-hoon’s performance of Hong Kwang Ho’s “You’re So Beautiful,” a song that echoed his message to his supporters.
Fans responded with banners and video greetings before joining him in group photos. The atmosphere was celebratory, marking a special milestone — Ju Ji-hoon’s first fan meeting in Manila.
