IF you are a Hallyu, or Korean Wave, enthusiast like me, 2019 was probably the year all your dreams came true. Nearly all those stars we only saw in pictures and videos came to Manila for concerts and fan meetings. I say “nearly” because boy group BTS and several other Korean celebrities did not come to Manila.
I became a Hallyu fan in 1999 when we had limited access to the Internet. Many of us (in the Philippines, at least) could not afford tickets of concerts here, much less in other cities abroad.
When Happee Sy brought in the Korean boy group Super Junior to Manila for a concert in 2010, she forever changed that. Suddenly, there was no more need to fly to another country to watch a K-pop concert.
It took a while before K-pop and K-drama became mainstream here, but Filipinos have now embraced Hallyu and Korean culture fully.
Seungri, then of the group Big Bang, was the first Korean artist to hold a concert in the Philippines in 2019. The Great Seungri Tour 2019 Live in Manila: The Seungri Show was held on January 19 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Momoland had their fan meeting “2019 Hello, Merry Go the Philippines” on January 25 at the Araneta Coliseum.
February was a big month, as Blackpink held its much-anticipated concert on February 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Park Hyung-sik held the first of many fan meetings of Korean actors for the year on February 16 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, while iKON performed at the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphone toward the end of the month.
I remember being sad because I had an invitation for the iKON event, but I had a trip to Bangkok where the group also performed for a Samsung Galaxy S10 event at a mall in front of my hotel on my first night there. On March 7, Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized the the 2019 K-pop Friendship Concert with NCT Dream, NOIR and April headlining the event at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Park Ji-hoon, a former member of Wanna One, held his first edition of “2019 Asia Fan Meeting in Manila” on March 15 at Araneta Coliseum while Korean actor So Ji-sub held his Asia Tour “Hello” Manila at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. On March 24, girl group Dreamcatcher held their debut concert Dreamcatcher Concert: Invitation From Nightmare City in Manila at SM City North Edsa’s Skydome.
There was only only K-pop event for April. Stray Kids held their Unveil Tour “I Am…” in Manila on April 27 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Bae Jin-young, formerly of Wanna One and a member of the boy group CIX, headlined “IM YOUNG: Bae Jin Young in Manila” on May 18 at the New Frontier Theater, while actor Seo Kang-jun charmed fans at his The Last Charm: Seo Kang Jun in Manila event on May 25 at the New Frontier Theater.
Blackpink returned to Manila for a meet-and-greet for online shopping platform Shopee on June 6 at Samsung Hall of SM Aura in Taguig. It was an event that became controversial, and even trended for several days (#ShopeeScam). The K-pop World Music Festival 2019 in Manila was held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on June 9 featuring NCT 127, Red Velvet, Elris, Kim Dong-han and Sohee. Actor Park Bogum staged the “2019 Asia Tour: Good Day in Manila” on June 22, 2019, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. On June 29, TWICE filled the same venue for their first concert here, dubbed “TWICELIGHTS World Tour”, while The Boyz held their Asia Fan-Con Tour “The Castle” on June 30 at the New Frontier Theater.
Actress Lee Sung-kyung, who is best known for her drama Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, held her “Be Joyful: First Fan Meeting in Manila” on July 27 at SM City North Edsa Skydome.
August was another busy month for Hallyu lovers. NOIR held their first-ever fan meeting and concert in Manila, dubbed The Ninth Tour in Manila, on August 10, while Ailee, Hwanhee of Fly to the Sky and Guckkasten held a show on August 17. EXO returned to Manila for the Planet #5: The EXplOration concerts on August 23 and 24 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Meanwhile, GFriend held their 2019 Asia Tour “Go Go GFriend” on August 25 at the New Frontier Theater. It was the first time in Manila for NU’EST, who held their 2019 NU’EST Concert Segno in Manila on August 31 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Hallyu action escalated in September. N. Flying had their 2019 Live Up All Night in Manila show on September 1 at the New Frontier Theater, while Monsta X and Weki Meki performed at the second anniversary of Klook Philippines on September 7 at the World Trade Center. Boy group VAV held their “Meet and Live in Manila” on September 7 at the SM City North Edsa Skydome. On September 22, hip-hop artist Jay Park held his Sexy 4Eva World Tour at the New Frontier Theater. Actor Jung Hae-in staged his “One Summer Night” fan meet tour in Manila 2019 on September 28 at the New Frontier Theater, while Park Seo-joon had a Fun Meet for local clothing brand Bench on September 29 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Filipino favorite Momoland and former Wanna One members Kim Jae-hwan and Ha Sung-woon opened October with a bang with the Good Friends in Manila concert at Araneta Coliseum on October 5. On that same day, actor Lee Dong-wook was the guest at the #LoveKorea Culture & Travel Fiesta 2019 organized by the Korea Tourism Organization Manila at SM Megamall. Lee Seung-gi finally met his Filipino fans with his “Vagabond Voyage” Asia Fan Meeting in Manila on October 12 at the New Frontier Theater. Former Wanna One center Kang Daniel came to Manila as a solo artist with his “Kang Daniel Fan Meeting: Color on Me in Manila” on October 19 at the Mall of Asia Arena. GOT7 returned to the country with the Keep Spinning 2019 World Tour on October 26 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. On the same day, boy group ASTRO member and actor Cha Eun-woo did his “Just One 10 Minute” show at the New Frontier Theater.
In November, boy group SF9 held their 2019 SF9 Live Fantasy #2 Unixerse on November 16 at the New Frontier Theater. Actor and model Jang Ki-yong had his “Filmography 1st Fan Meeting” in Manila on November 17 at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura Premier. On November 23, pop-rock band Day6 filled the Araneta Coliseum with their Gravity World Tour, while Park Hae-jin’s “Spark Fan Meeting” in Manila was held at the New Frontier Theater on the same day.
The busiest month for Hallyu in the Philippines was December with fan meetings until December 22.
ITZY kicked off the month’s activities with ITZY Premiere Showcase Tour on December 8 at the New Frontier Theater. IU held her four-hour Love, Poem concert tour in Manila on December 13 at the Araneta Coliseum. It was IU’s first-ever concert in the Philippines. UP10TION member Lee Jin-hyuk charmed Filipino fans at his 1st solo “S.O.L.” fan meeting in Manila on December 14 at the New Frontier Theater. Super Junior, who started everything, returned to Manila with their Super Show 8 concert on December 15 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, while The Rose held their We Rose You Live in Manila show at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura Premier. Victon held their Voice to Alice Tour on December 21 at SM City North Edsa Skydome. BTOB member Lim Hyun-sik had the last K-pop event in Manila for 2019 with the “Dear Melody in Manila” fan meeting on December 22 at the New Frontier Theater.
So, yes, it’s been a year full of excitement for fans of K-pop and K-drama. I predict that we’ll have more excitement in 2020.