From a 16-year-old who knew little English living alone in a foreign country, Yul became a translator to K-pop stars visiting Manila. Then he accidentally became a celebrity himself.
Hyeonyul “Yul” Kim was only 16 years old and fresh out of grade 10 when his parents sent him to the Philippines to study English. The monsoon season was in full swing when Yul arrived in 2015. In contrast to the sunny skies and tropical weather that the Philippines is known for, heavy rain and resounding thunder marked Yul’s first few weeks in Manila.
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To make matters worse, he was practically alone in an unfamiliar land, with no relatives or friends to turn to. “I was so scared at first! I always cried at night because I missed my family,” he recalls.
Even for a self-confessed extrovert, it still took around three months for young Yul to adjust to his environment. Thankfully, amid the incessant rains were the sunny dispositions of his newfound Filipino classmates, which helped him a great deal. “Everyone was so kind and hospitable to me. Even those who I’ve met for the first time went out of their way to take care of me,” Yul shares.
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After finishing high school at St. Paul College of Makati, Yul decided to stay in the Philippines to study mechanical engineering at De La Salle University—a decision that his parents honored. While he officially entered college in 2018, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Yul to return to South Korea in 2020. Within that year, he also began fulfilling his mandatory military service to his homeland.
But so strong was the Philippines’ grasp on Yul’s heart that he decided to continue his studies at DLSU and return in January 2023. Little did Yul know that a life-changing opportunity was waiting for him upon his return—one that was unprecedented, but something that he had unwittingly prepared for.
A man to be admired
With the rising number of Korean celebrities and K-Pop acts visiting the Philippines for fan meets and concerts came the increased demand for event translators. Yul had a friend who introduced him to the opportunity, and he took on his first translation gig in late-January 2023 for hip-hop and R&B label AOMG.
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The following month, Yul joined the production team for the two-day concert of South Korean boy band ENHYPEN at the Mall of Asia Arena. While he was working onsite, a fan took a photo of an unsuspecting Yul and uploaded it on X (formerly Twitter).
The power of social media turned Yul into an overnight celebrity.
Initially thinking that his accounts got hacked because of the abrupt rise in followers, Yul saw that he was getting messages of support and admiration. First, people were gushing over his good looks; second, fans of ENHYPEN were thanking him for his hard work.
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In less than a decade, from a young and scared teenager alone in a foreign country who knew little English, Yul transformed into a capable and confident man who knew his languages well enough to bridge two different cultures together—and with his own fan base to boot.
A man on the move
Yul is now 25, and he juggles several responsibilities every day. His studies take up most of his time, squeezing modeling and translation gigs on weekends or after school hours. Fitness is both a lifestyle and a leisurely activity for him, and travel ranks highly in his priorities.
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Like most Korean men his age, and more so because he is a model, Yul is mindful of personal appearances and self-presentation. He keeps a consistent skincare routine, adding an emulsion and sunblock on top of the usual cleanser-toner-moisturizer routine. His personal style leans toward minimalism—he doesn’t like busy and loud prints—and he keeps tabs on trends, taking what resonates with him and leaving what doesn’t. Suits, in particular, are his favorite articles of clothing.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced Yul to return to South Korea in 2020. But so strong was the Philippines’ grasp on Yul’s heart that he decided to continue his studies at DLSU and return in January 2023.
His is a life that most young people envy. Add Yul’s unprecedented ascent via a viral social media moment, and you have what young millennial/Gen Z dreams are made of. And while his life has taken several unexpected turns, there are many things in Yul’s life that, in retrospect, have prepared him well.
Yul was born in 1999 at Seongnam, a satellite city of Seoul. At the time, his mother was a housewife, and his father was an interior designer. Because of his dad’s responsibilities at work, Yul’s family often transferred residences; as a result, Yul went to several schools as a kid.
“I got used to adjusting to different environments and making new friends all the time because of my father’s job. That’s why it’s easy for me to approach and talk to people. If they find it awkward, then I just move on to the next person,” says Yul.
These experiences proved to be useful when he moved to the Philippines in 2015, albeit with a few understandable hiccups. (After all, anybody who moves to a completely different country at a young age would definitely feel lonely and awkward for a time.)
With such an outgoing personality, Yul naturally took to exploring the Philippines. His Instagram account and YouTube channel reveals travel posts and vlogs. Bohol doesn’t come as a surprise—it’s popular among South Koreans, with Jeju Air having a direct flight from Incheon to Panglao. But when he posted his Siquijor content, Yul found the messages of concern quite amusing.
“Many people asked me if I was okay, because all they knew about the place were scary things,” he laughs, alluding to the Visayan island’s reputation as a mystical and supernatural place. “But I enjoyed my time there. Everything was fresh, and it was so peaceful.”
Yul’s friends and followers have often remarked that he seems more well-traveled within the Philippines than most Filipinos. “I find that observation quite amusing. That’s exactly why I want to create more travel content featuring more destinations around the country. I want to be that guy that’s well-traveled enough so that I can recommend good itineraries to them if they decide to go to the places that I have visited.”
A man of the world
“My parents wanted me to have an ‘international mindset,’ to be a ‘globally competitive talent,’ so to speak,” says Yul, talking about his move to the Philippines.
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Growing up, Yul’s parents only had the following stipulations: that he should focus on his studies; that, if he makes a mistake, he should learn from it so that he won’t repeat it; and that he should make the most out of his youth, because the professional world won’t be as forgiving with spare time.
I got used to adjusting to different environments and making new friends all the time because of my father’s job. That’s why it’s easy for me to approach and talk to people.”
Shirt, COS; Trousers, ZEGNA; Ring and Watch; CARTIER
It’s an openness that has allowed Yul to delve into various interests and passions without fear. He explored the performing arts (Yul was once part of the youth choir, and he sometimes does covers to this day), played several sports, and enjoyed mathematics and science (hence, his mechanical engineering degree—a “practical” career choice, he says).
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Learning English in the Philippines only served to broaden Yul’s mind and lifestyle further. Had he cowered and given up amid those stormy nights several years ago, he probably wouldn’t have become the man that he is now.
“I didn’t expect my life to turn out this way. I never thought I’d go abroad—much less become a student in the Philippines, a translator, or even a model,” Yul shares. “But I figured that it wouldn’t hurt to try new things and charge them to experience. If I succeed in something, then great; if I don’t, then at least I won’t have any regrets or what-ifs.”
Yul shared that he failed the examinations for drama school in South Korea back in 2022. Had he passed then, he might have stayed to pursue acting. He wouldn’t have been at that ENHYPEN concert at MOA Arena in 2023, and the fan wouldn’t have snapped his photo and catapulted him to social media stardom. Perhaps I wouldn’t have had the chance to interview him for this story.
Who knows what could have happened? Either way, actor, translator, model, traveler—whatever it is, Yul’s ascent seems to be written in the stars.
Creative team:
PRODUCERS: Chad Alarcon and Kitten Zapata. CREATIVE DIRECTION: Erick Torres Dizon. PHOTOGRAPHY: Bjorn Michael. STYLING: Julian Rodriguez. GROOMING: Gery Peñaso. PRODUCTION MANAGERS: Monica Toribio & Sean Carballo. VIDEO DIRECTOR: Brian Monge and Joshua Driza.
