#FangirlGigs: Ju Ji Hoon melts hearts in his first PH fan meeting
We waited nearly two decades for this moment—and it was worth every second.
Ju Ji Hoon, the original Crown Prince of our K-drama hearts, finally held his first fan meeting in the Philippines last Aug. 2 at Newport Performing Arts Theater. And for longtime fans (yes, even the ones who used to live in Soompi threads), it felt like a long-overdue reunion.
Although it was his first official fan meeting in the country, the night had all the warmth and familiarity of a homecoming. Many in the crowd had been with him since his Princess Hours (Goong) days, when he first captured hearts as Crown Prince Lee Shin in 2006. Some even reconnected with old fandom friends they first met on Soompi forums, Multiply fan pages, and early K-drama chatrooms—OG fangirl spaces that defined an era.
And it wasn’t just local fans who showed up. Supporters flew in from Korea, China, Japan, and Thailand, turning the event into a global celebration of Ji Hoon’s career. From Gen Z fans who discovered him through Kingdom to millennials who came of age watching Goong, the audience was a heartwarming mix of generations and nationalities—all bound by one thing: their unwavering love for Ju Ji Hoon.
King of fan service
Ju Ji Hoon may be known for playing cool, emotionally complex characters on screen, but in person, he was the ultimate softie. He greeted fans with that familiar “eyyy” hand sign, smiled non-stop, and made sure everyone felt seen and appreciated.
Every fan who went up on stage got to take a photo with him—and get this: He was the one who initiated the hugs. One fan even got to stare into his eyes for five whole seconds, and he gently held her face like it was the most natural thing in the world.
He performed two songs during the show, and let’s just say our hearts weren’t ready. Hearing him sing live added a whole new layer to the Ju Ji Hoon experience—cue the collective kilig in the entire theater.
In the second half of the show, Ji Hoon surprised everyone by going down the stage to greet fans up close. He waved, shook hands, and even took selfies with lucky audience members. His warmth and sincerity radiated throughout the room.
It’s clear he loves connecting with his fans. Though this was his first official PH fan meeting, he shared that he’s been to the country before and likes experiencing the local scene—especially the market life.
From 'Princess Hours' to global fame
For many of us, Ju Ji Hoon will always be our Goong prince—the brooding royal who launched a thousand fanfics and stole our hearts in 2006. Nearly 20 years later, we’re still swooning over the same man who once lived on our computer wallpapers.
But Ji Hoon has long outgrown that one role. Over the years, he’s built a dynamic and critically acclaimed acting portfolio—from the zombie-fighting prince in Kingdom, to intense, layered roles in Hyena and Jirisan, to the recent thriller Blood Free, where he plays a stoic bodyguard caught in the web of biotech intrigue.
He also took a dramatic turn in the hit medical comedy The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, portraying genius trauma surgeon and ex-mercenary combat medic Baek Kang-hyuk. The performance earned him Best Actor honors at both the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Blue Dragon Series Awards, solidifying his reputation as more than just a pretty face.
During the fan meeting, Ji Hoon teased two upcoming projects—though he didn’t give away too much—and said he’s hoping to work on a fantasy genre next. He is set to headline the upcoming fantasy romance The Remarried Empress, with Shin Min Ah, Lee Jong Suk, and Lee Se Young. With his ability to fully disappear into a role, we’re excited for what kind of magic he’ll bring to that.
A beautiful ending
To wrap up the two-hour show, Ju Ji Hoon serenaded the audience with You're So Beautiful by Hong Kwang-ho—a heartfelt number he shared he always includes in his fan meetings. It was the perfect finale: intimate, emotional, and filled with gratitude.
“I’ve been busy filming in Korea lately,” he said. “But being here in Manila, I’m so happy to receive your energy. I’ll take this back with me and use it to keep working hard. Thank you so much.”
As the fan meeting wrapped up, you could feel the love in the air—fans wiping happy tears, clutching their phones filled with selfies and videos, and smiling ear-to-ear. Someone behind me whispered, “Ang bait niya. He really deserves all this love.”
We agree. Ju Ji Hoon is the very definition of TDH—tall, dark, and humble.
