“I’ve heard many good things about Manila but experiencing it for myself—it’s even more wonderful than I expected.” the actor said
The POST was at Solaire Resort Entertainment City last week for Hyun Bin’s first press event in the Philippines. His entrance drew cheers and a wave of camera flashes from the media and invited guests.
Hyun Bin (현빈) said the Philippines had long been on his list of places to visit. He didn’t have time to see much of the country, but he shared how impressed he was with the hospitality and energy of the people. “From the moment I arrived, everyone has been so warm and welcoming,” he said. “I’ve heard many good things about Manila but experiencing it for myself, it’s even more wonderful than I expected.”
He also mentioned trying adobo for the first time, describing it as rich, flavorful, and something he would gladly eat again. During the fan meet, in a video shared by singer and host Martin Nievera, Martin asked what other dishes people suggested he try. Hyun Bin replied that he was told to try crispy pata.
At the end of the press con, instead of heading straight backstage, Hyun Bin stepped off the stage and walked around to shake hands with the press, thanking as many people as he could before leaving.
The dramas that made fans (and us!) fall in love with him
Hyun Bin has been acting for more than two decades, and his career is marked by dramas that left an impact on audiences in South Korea and abroad, especially here, where K-dramas are reigning on every screen.
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My Lovely Sam Soon (2005)
This was the first time that many of his fans saw and fell in love with him. The rom-com paired him with Kim Sun Ah, who played a talented but outspoken pastry chef. Hyun Bin was the restaurant owner who hires her and eventually falls in love with despite their constant clashes. The series was a massive hit in Korea and across Asia, including the Philippines where it became one of the most talked-about Korean dramas on TV. It was so popular locally that GMA Network produced a 2008 adaptation titled Ako si Kim Samsoon, starring Regine Velasquez and Mark Anthony Fernandez.
Secret Garden (2010)
One of the most popular dramas of the early 2010s. Hyun Bin played Kim Joo-won, a wealthy and eccentric CEO. Ha Ji-won played Gil Ra-im, a hardworking stuntwoman. A strange twist causes them to switch bodies, leading to funny and emotional moments. The series was a big hit in Asia and remains a fan-favorite.
Hyde, Jekyll, Me (2015)
Here he took on a more challenging role: as a theme park director with dissociative identity disorder. One personality was cold and distant while the other was warm and gentle, allowing him to show two completely different sides in the same drama.
Memories of the Alhambra (2018)
This series mixed romance, mystery and science fiction, with Hyun Bin playing a tech CEO who gets caught up in a dangerous augmented reality game. He starred alongside Park Shin-hye, who played Jung Hee-joo, the owner of a hostel in Granada, Spain. Set partly in Spain, it was visually stunning and full of twists.
Crash Landing on You (2019–2020)
The drama that made him a global star. As North Korean officer Ri Jeong Hyeok, he falls for a South Korean heiress played by Son Ye-jin after a paragliding accident. The mix of romance, comedy and political tension made it an international hit. It also led to his real-life romance with Son Ye-jin, and the two are now happily married, making them one of Korea’s most beloved celebrity couples.
He also starred in Harbin (2024), a historical film set in the early 1900s about Korean independence fighters in Harbin, China. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) before its release in September 2024.
A love that spans generations
Hyun Bin’s appeal crosses age groups. Some fans discovered him during CLOY, while others have been watching since his early dramas.
A clear example is actress Charo Santos-Concio attending his Manila fan event and posting a photo with him on Instagram, writing, “Crash landed… right into my oppa’s smile.” She shared that CLOY has been a source of comfort during the pandemic and meeting him was something she had dreamed about for years.
What’s next for Hyun Bin?
Hyun Bin’s next project is Made in Korea. The series will premiere on Disney+ in December, with season two filming later this year.
The crime-thriller takes place in the 1970s and follows Kitae, a man chasing wealth and power, and Geonyoung, a prosecutor determined to stop him. Hyun Bin plays Kitae, while Jung Woo-sung takes on the role of Geonyoung.
For Filipino fans who just met him in person, it will be a chance to see him in a very different role, one far from the romances that first made him famous.
The POST covered Hyun Bin’s first Manila press event on-site at Solaire Resort Entertainment City.
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