A Song Joong-Ki Tribute

It was around midnight, just a few hours after the first-ever fan meet of Song Joong-Ki in Manila had ended. My friends and I decided to go for a hotpot to celebrate a birthday and wrap up the night after a long day of events.

Lost in thought, everything has sunk in — being able to attend Song Joong-Ki’s media exclusive press conference and sitting at one of the best seats at his fan meet. The turn of events was so unexpected, but my angels have aligned for this opportunity. Of course, it wouldn’t have been possible without IAM Worldwide, Publicity Asia, and the wonderful Miss Joyce Ramirez.

As I was sipping the soup, I suddenly burst into tears. The thought of my friends being happy for me and the initial comments on the video of me greeting Joong-ki oppa while he watched me on the big screen overwhelmed me.

Song Joong Ki as my Favorite Actor

As one of his earliest foreign fans, I bask in the fact that I’ve been supporting him since his initial acting days. The first time I saw him was on KBS World in the summer of 2010, back when cable TV still reigned supreme. He starred in the Korean hit drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal, which featured Park Yoochun and Park Min-young, as the two leads. As a reverse harem drama, there were two more characters: Yoo Ah In, who plays the second male lead, and Song Joong-Ki, who portrays the third male lead. You can draw comparisons between Joong-Ki’s character and the more experienced and intelligent supporting characters found in dramas like Boys Over Flowers, who assist either the first or second male leads.

While doing Sungkyungkwan Scandal, Song Joong-Ki also hosted KBS2’s Music Bank (simultaneously streamed live on KBS World every Friday) for over two years, along with his drama co-star Seo Hye Rim. He was one of the best hosts the weekly music show has ever had.

I’ve always seen Song Joong-Ki as a lively, mischievous, and intelligent actor, characterized by his baby-faced beauty, which is marked by his narrow eyes, crinkly cheeks, and childlike smile. These features contribute to his youthful charm, which endures into his late 30s (he is currently 40 in Korean age).

I realized that, somehow, I was still clinging to the image of the old Song Joong-Ki despite witnessing his evolution as an artist. However, as I reflect on it, I realize that many of his portrayals were serious roles: the vengeful Kang Ma Roo in Innocent Man, the protective Chul-soo in A Werewolf Boy, and even the mature lover Jae-hyuk in the Believe in the Moment segment of the five-part film Five Senses of Eros.

One thing I’m certain about now is that, despite the variety of his characters, most, if not all, are intelligent, cunning, and determined. These personas make for great drama, which has propelled Joong-Ki to A-list status in the Korean entertainment industry.

In the press conference, Joong-Ki told everyone that playing Vincenzo was quite a thrill for him, as the character was eliminating bad guys. He said that he had a lot of favorite scenes from the drama, so it was no wonder that it’s one of his most popular series in the Philippines.

When asked which character he would like to portray in the future, he mentioned that he had previously played a werewolf and expressed his desire to play a vampire next. I believe this is a great choice because a vampire character would possess different motivations and demeanor. It would be especially intriguing if he portrayed someone like the defiant and arrogant Lestat from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles.

READ MORE: IAM Worldwide’s “IAM Song Joong-Ki” Event a Massive Success in Manila

An Accommodating and Genuine Artist

During the press conference, Song Joong-Ki evoked a strong but welcoming presence. He was the way I anticipated: accommodating, amicable, and authentic, without being overly obsequious. Like many of the characters he portrayed and how he hosted or received awards, he spoke with gravitas while still exhibiting moments of “aegyo” and playfulness.

I didn’t want to compare him with other artists, but Joong-Ki was an entirely different actor from all I had seen in person. Other artists seem reluctant, distant, or contrived, but Joong-Ki is genuine and approachable. He interacted with fans effortlessly and naturally, making everyone feel welcome and at ease. He eagerly offered compliments and was even open to giving hugs. It felt like he was just on the same level as everyone, making it seem like we were his friends. This demeanor reflects the intelligence, culture, generosity, and kindness that Song Joong-Ki truly embodies.

Being the Father that he is

Since Song Joong-Ki reached the ripe age of 40 (in Korean), it was no surprise that he would wake up early in the morning, follow his routine, spend time with his two kids and wife, and do grocery shopping. He has expressed that if only he were given the opportunity, he would also love to visit supermarkets in Manila, a sentiment he reiterated when answering somewhat related questions.

Even as an actor, it’s quite evident that Song Joong-Ki was a hands-on dad. He expressed that his happiness comes from seeing his children peacefully asleep. And the supermarket shopping also says a lot. Unlike many Korean men who depend on their wives for that task, Joong Ki can take on that responsibility himself. Apart from his portrayals and routines, he often spoke about the joy of spending time with his family and traveling with them.

I fully support Song Joong-Ki on his journey as a father, and I’m truly happy for him. It’s understandable that he barely spent two days in the Philippines, as his family is his top priority. However, I must say that fans like me are so lucky that he was able to fulfill our desire to see him in person. Until next time, Saranghaeyo, Oppa!

A big shout-out again to IAM Worldwide and Publicity Asia once more for bringing Song Joong-Ki to the Philippines.

This article was written for The Pop Blog and was originally published on March 29, 2025. A canonical link is used in this post to avoid duplicate content issues with Google indexing.