Long before becoming the face behind the beloved Han Seo-jun of True Beauty, Hwang In-youp spent some of his formative years in the Philippines. Years later, the South Korean actor returned to Manila for his second fan meeting, “To You,” reuniting with Filipino HIYILYs.
Returning to Manila for his second fan meeting in the country, Hwang In-youp reunited with Filipino HIYILYs through his 2026 “To You” Asia Fan Meeting Tour on October 31 at the New Frontier Theater, presented by L-Squared Productions PH.
Opening the evening with a rendition of BTS V’s “Love Me Again,” the South Korean actor and model greeted the crowd in Filipino.
Despite recently hosting an awards show, Hwang In-youp revealed that his anticipation of meeting his Filipino supporters kept him going through his busy schedule.
“I really stayed strong because of the fact that I’m going to Manila to meet my fans,” he shared.
During a conversation about his experiences in the Philippines, he recalled that his Filipino friends introduced him to local street food and took him around to try different delicacies.
The conversation also turned to his youthful appearance, particularly his recurring portrayals as a high school student. When the host teased him about his seemingly ageless appearance, he recalled attending a BYS beauty brand event at age 31 and having already graduated from college in 2011.
Away from the lighthearted exchanges, Hwang In-youp also discussed the importance of building chemistry with an on-screen partner.
“You have to really become closer and friendly to each other. That would make a really great drama,” he explained.
He also recalled filming his first scene with Lee Hye-ri for “Dream to You,” describing how their unfamiliarity with each other brought a natural sense of nervousness to the scene.
The actor demonstrated his signature wolf-and-fox gaze, recreating the expressions that helped make his character, Han Seo-jun, remarkable in True Beauty. He later did Han Seo-jun’s iconic dance to Zico and Mino’s “Okey Dokey.”
Hwang In-youp also brought familiar K-drama scenarios to life during the “Close To You” segment, inviting selected fans to reenact romantic encounters with him, including scenes set against beachside and skyline backdrops.
He further serenaded the audience with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Love Attack,” while making his way closer to fans to hand out roses.
Filipino HIYILYs also collectively shouted “In-youp, saranghae!” before throwing their prepared paper planes toward him.
The night’s most heartfelt moment came when he watched a surprise video message prepared by his Filipino supporters.
As he reflected on his connection to the country, the actor expressed how much the Philippines meant to him.
“Thank you so much to all of you for coming here. Thank you so much for your support and love. You know, this is a place where I grew, where I studied, where I developed myself as a person, so it really is meaningful for me that I’m doing this here tonight,” he said.
Before the evening ended, Hwang In-youp teased another project he hoped to share with his fans.
“With no joke, if you keep looking for me and wanting me here, I can come back here anytime,” he promised, playfully adding that fans could simply say so if they did not want him back.
After taking a group photo with the audience, Hwang concluded the fan meeting with “Promise” by Wonstein, the original soundtrack for the series “Can This Love Be Translated?”.
