Long before Seoul’s red carpets and K-drama stardom, a certain beloved leading man was just a regular student walking the sunny halls of Davao City — answering to a completely different name.
Long before he was stealing hearts globally on a motorcycle as Han Seo-jun in True Beauty or melting viewers with his gentle charm in Family By Choice, Hwang In Youp was a tall, soft-spoken student strolling through the sunny hallways of Davao City.
To millions of Hallyu fans, he is the charismatic leading man. But to a lucky group of Mindanao batchmates, teachers, and neighbors, he’ll always be Ryan Leon — the high school kid who loved street food, studied fashion, and walked away with a campus pageant crown.
With Hwang In Youp returning to Manila for his “To You” Fan Meeting at the New Frontier Theater, it feels less like a standard celebrity stop and more like a warm, nostalgic homecoming. Here is a look back at the Philippine chapter that shaped the international star we know today.
Hwang In Youp spent four formative years in Davao City during his teenage and college era. While attending the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School (PNJKIS), he adopted his English name, Ryan Leon. Standing over six feet tall, he naturally stood out in the crowd, though former batchmates remember him as relatively quiet, polite, and deeply focused on his studies.
Yet, even before the cameras and red carpets of Seoul came calling, his star power was hard to hide. Back in 2008, he represented his year level in the school’s intramural pageant and officially walked away as “Mr. Intrams 2008”. When old yearbook photos and pageant snapshots resurfaced online years later, Filo fans instantly realized that the True Beauty heartthrob had been serving visual material right here in the Philippines all along.
After graduating from high school, Hwang In Youp continued his stay in Mindanao by pursuing higher education at the Philippine Women’s College of Davao (PWC). Driven by a passion for aesthetics and design, he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in Fashion Design.
That artistic foundation laid in Davao directly paved the way for his future career. Upon returning to South Korea, he initially stepped into the entertainment industry as a runway model before transitioning into acting. The sharp sense of style, poised posture, and artistic eye that fans admire in his fashion spreads were honed right in the design studios of Davao.
Though he moved back to Korea to pursue his dreams, Hwang In Youp has never shied away from showing his love for the Philippines. During media interviews and press conferences, he frequently recalls his favorite Pinoy comfort foods.
From indulging in crispy lechon and sweet Philippine pineapples to snacking on street food like kwek-kwek, he often speaks of his Davao diet with genuine fondness. In past Manila visits, he even shared that he still keeps in touch with his close Filipino friends and high school batchmates.
For Filo HIYILYs, cheering for Hwang In Youp comes with a genuine sense of pride. Having spent his formative years in Davao, he carried a real piece of local culture back with him to Korea. When he steps onto the stage at the New Frontier Theater, fans will be welcoming back a familiar batchmate who went on to capture hearts worldwide.
Don’t miss your chance to see him live! Presented by L-Squared Productions PH, Hwang In Youp’s “To You” Fan Meeting in Manila happens on October 31, 2026, at the New Frontier Theater. Grab your tickets now via TicketNet outlets and online at ticketnet.com.ph to secure your fan benefits, photo ops, and a spot at this unforgettable homecoming!
