South Korean actor Song Joong-ki made his long-awaited Manila debut for the IAM Song Joong Ki Live fan meet at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday. But before facing thousands of cheering fans, the 39-year-old actor took time to meet with the local press.
This wasn’t his first time in the Philippines. “I went to Cebu 15 years ago for a vacation,” he recalled. However, his current trip to the capital left little room for exploration. “I don’t have much time to enjoy my stay here,” he said with a smile. “So next time I really want to come here for a family vacation. Because I heard there are many beautiful islands. I want to visit some paradise.”
Despite the tight schedule, Song Joong-ki made sure to take in a few simple pleasures: sleep, the gym, the Manila Bay’s iconic view, and a cookie he couldn’t quite name.
“Due to the short period of time that I have here in Manila, I won’t be able to make that plan work,” he admitted. “But the next time I come back to the Philippines, I really want to pursue that kind of schedule, [that] tour schedule for [the next] visit in Manila.”
Known for preferring an authentic experience over tourist traps, Joong-ki spoke about his love for local haunts. “The places that the Filipino locals really go on a daily basis, those are the places that [I want] to look around,” he said. “Public market, the market, the local restaurants, the vibes to feel that I’m in the local places.”
Asked what he recommends for Filipinos heading to Korea, the K-drama A-lister hesitated to give typical answers.
“It’s hard to make any recommendation,” he said, “but for me, when I go to a new country or new city, the best and most exciting part of the tour is enjoying local food, the place where locals really enjoy.”
Still, he offered his favorites. “There’s a lot of Filipinos who go to Korea, so I’d recommend something that I’m personally so into as well. I’d recommend Korean barbeque—samgyeopsal, galbi, and bulgogi,” he said. “When my foreign friends come to Korea, I always bring them to Insadong and then to the traditional public market Gwangjang Sijang.”
As for his next visit to the Philippines, don’t expect the actor to head only to white-sand beaches. “I want to visit the supermarket and buy a lot of, you know, local biscuits as well and bring them to Korea,” he said, flashing a grin.
The actor, who now lives in Rome with his wife, British actress Katy Louise Saunders, and their two children, noted his personal connection with Filipinos.
“Actually, I have some Philippine friends in Korea. And when I stay in Italy with my wife, we have some Philippine friends there too,” he shared. “So the Philippine people for us, the image of the Philippine people is so kind always and friendly. So when I had that interview, I was telling myself that I really want to go to the Philippines because I have a good image from some of my friends.”
Meanwhile, by the time he stepped onto the stage at MOA Arena, the energy was electric. The crowd roared at the sight of him.
“Salamat, Manila!” he shouted, greeted by deafening cheers. “Wow! There’s so many people tonight. The arena’s jam-packed. I’m very, very grateful to all coming here tonight. Of course, thank you for the invitation from IAM Worldwide for bringing me here in Manila for the first time.”
Presented by IAM Worldwide and Publicity Asia, the fan event was filled with lighthearted moments and emotional exchanges, giving Filipino fans a glimpse of the actor’s warmth beyond the screen.
