Ahn Hyo-seop’s talent is undeniable.
New and longtime fans of Ahn Hyo-seop were in for a treat as the Korean actor showcased his singing and dancing skills in the Manila stop of his Asia tour titled “Here and Now,” presented by Bench, at the MOA Arena on Oct. 8.
Ahn himself chose the title “Here and Now” for his Asia tour.
“I believe that the moment when you can feel happiness is right now. That is why I wanted to have the happiest time right here and now together with you,” he said, to the delight of Paul-jjaks, his fandom name.
Daily routine
As it was Ahn’s first time to visit the Philippines, fan meet host Sam Oh took the chance to make him speak a few Tagalog words in a segment, which elicited squeals and giggles from the crowd—short but sweet words such as “Salamat po,” “mabuhay” and “masarap” were all fun to hear, but Ahn saying “mahal ko kayo” surely knocked the audience off their feet.
When asked if he has tried any Filipino food, Ahn said he enjoyed eating a lot of dried mangoes. He did not have the chance to try some Filipino dishes yet but he planned to eat adobo after the event.
Having spent his childhood in Canada, Ahn did not have a hard time switching from Korean to English during the interview.
“I think I lived a quiet life. I tried my best not to give a headache to my parents. And mostly after school, the library and home, that would be my daily routine,” he said, when asked what it was like growing up.
Nerd, eyes on the ground
He described himself as “a nerd,” and that he would always walk with eyes on the ground.
“When I was young, the idea of being famous or being a person who influences other people was a very big burden for me. That is why I tried my best to go far away from this,” he said.
These days, however, he tries his best to think of how he can be a better influence on his fans. His fans mean so much to him, Ahn said, and he is very grateful to them. “I think I only exist because of you, guys. The only reason I’m here right now is because you’ve always supported me, and I’m very grateful for that,” he said. Ahn is known for his roles in “Lovers of the Red Sky,” “Dr. Romantic,” “Business Proposal” and the recent time travel romance, “A Time Called You.”
Of the characters he has portrayed, he said he shares a lot of similarities with Seo Woo Jin in “Dr. Romantic,” who was pessimistic and cynical at first but experienced growth over time.
The gift that keeps on giving
Ahn Hyo-seop’s presence alone was already a gift, but his talents shone as the show went on. He opened with a heartwarming rendition of “I’m Your Man,” the first of many songs he prepared for the show. Screams and shrieks filled the hall when he came out from a short break in between segments and danced to “Vibe,” with moves on par with those of idols.
Heading to a bittersweet goodbye, he sang “Still With You” with his beautiful vibrato and falsettos that made the audience swoon. And just when we thought the show was over, he came around once more with a keyboard setup and his 10-year-old music sheet book to serenade the crowd with “The River Flows In You,” “Let it Be,” “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You,” and “Thanks,” a Korean ballad.
Ahn has truly set the standards high for oppas. The fans couldn’t ask for more, except for more time to bask in his talent. An afternoon was not enough to know everything about him, but Ahn did not hesitate to show his fun side and share fun facts about himself.
“Because I feel like life shouldn’t be overstimulated. I Imagine myself living life like I’m slow dancing. It kinda gives me the impression of living my life in peace (and taking my time). Live the moment. Here. Now,” AHN Hyo-seop said during our one-on-one interview. He came to… pic.twitter.com/RputMJego2
— SUPER (@inquirersuper) October 13, 2023
Memorable night
He completed “missions,” gave gifts and took Polaroid photos with lucky fans on stage. Oh, and he said he loves Coldplay a lot!
In a special message to his fans, he said, “I think there is a lot of love in this room right now. To think that this place is filled with love and that we are able to share this love is very meaningful and precious.”
He added, “Even if not for long, I hope in this short moment of time we get to share this love and you receive this much love tonight.” Ahn Hyo-seop said being able to see his fans in real life was just like a dream. And sure enough, we fans will also be dreaming about this memorable night until his next visit.
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