There was a familiar warmth in the room as Kim Soo-hyun returned to Manila.
The Korean superstar met with members of the media and Filipino fans on October 1 during a special media conference hosted by Bench, marking his latest visit to the Philippines ahead of his much-anticipated fan meeting at the SM Mall of Asia Arena scheduled to be held tonight
Dressed simply and comfortably in a clean, classic look, Kim Soo-hyun appeared relaxed as he talked about everything from the things he has been enjoying lately to the small details he notices when he travels. But beneath the lighthearted conversations was a recurring theme throughout the afternoon: his appreciation for the connection he shares with his Filipino fans.
If He Could Live for 400 Years
Naturally, his iconic role as Do Min-joon from My Love from the Star came up.
Asked what skill he would want to master if he could actually live for 400 years like his character, Kim Soo-hyun didn’t choose something extravagant. Instead, he talked about communication.
“If I had that much time, I think it would be amazing if I could master around five languages,” he said through an interpreter. “Everyone in the audience speaks different languages. If I could speak them directly, our emotional exchange and cultural connection would become so much deeper.”
It was a fitting answer from an actor whose work has connected him with audiences across different countries and languages.
The conversation then shifted to something much more ordinary and perhaps more relatable: food.
Kim Soo-hyun admitted that he has recently been enjoying ice cream sandwiches, joking that he has been eating them frequently because fans keep telling him to “eat a lot.”
Seeing the World Through a Camera
Away from acting, Kim Soo-hyun has also found himself looking at the world a little differently.
He shared that he recently picked up his camera again after not using it since his 20s. Rediscovering photography has made him more observant when he travels. He now catches himself looking at the environment around him, noticing how light falls, how shadows form, and the little details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
It is a quiet hobby, but one that seems to have given him a new way of experiencing the places he visits.
And Manila, of course, has given him plenty to notice including the people who came out to welcome him.
“Warmth, Passion, Sparkle”
Reflecting on his arrival in Manila, Kim Soo-hyun expressed his gratitude for the passionate welcome from Filipino fans.
He also brought up his memorable description of Filipino fans as having bright, expressive “angel eyes,” a compliment he previously shared during a Bench appearance.
This time, when asked to describe his Filipino fanbase in three words, he answered: Warmth, Passion, and Sparkle.
And when asked what he had been longing to hear from his Manila fans, his answer was simple:
“I missed you.”
Four words that seemed to capture the feeling of his return.
A Day by the Sea in Cebu
If he gets the chance to have some free time in the Philippines, Kim Soo-hyun already has an idea of how he would spend it.
He said he would love to visit Cebu, relax by the sea, feel the ocean breeze, and perhaps even drop by a local Bench store.
Before leaving the room, however, he had one more message for his Filipino supporters.
This time, he delivered it in Tagalog:
“Magandang hapon! Maraming salamat po! Kita-kits bukas!”
“Good afternoon! Thank you very much! See you tomorrow!”
And with that, Kim Soo-hyun left Manila fans with a simple promise for the following night another chance to see him, hear from him, and share the room with a star who clearly remembers the warmth waiting for him here.
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