The Mall of Asia Arena was practically glowing with affection and loud cheers on October 10, 2026, as South Korean actor Byeon Woo-seok officially reunited with his passionate Filipino fandom. Returning to the Philippines for his grand “The Secret Library” Asia tour stop—his third overall visit to the country following a brand event in 2025—the breakout star of Lovely Runner treated thousands of devoted “Tong-tongs” to an unforgettable two-hour spectacle filled with emotional serenades, hilarious traditional games, and intimate fan interactions.

An Unforgettable Grand Opening: Serenades, Cheeky Tagalog Greetings, and Birthday Tears

Stepping onto the stage framed as a handsome librarian managing a library of treasured memories, Woo-seok kicked off the evening with a soulful rendition of Daybreak’s indie-rock track “Flower Road.” Immediately after his opening song, the actor melted hearts by delivering a cheeky, iconic Tagalog greeting: “Kumain ka na?” (Have you eaten?)

Expressing his deep gratitude for the warm reception through an interpreter, Woo-seok admitted how meaningful it was to meet his “Filipino Woo Che Tong” once again. The emotional energy inside the venue reached a fever pitch when fans surprised the star with an early group birthday celebration ahead of his 35th birthday on October 31. Touched by the gesture, Woo-seok reflected on the three-month journey of his tour: “To meet my Tong-tongs in different cities, I’ve really really enjoyed it a lot. And because of that, I think I was able to spend my summer very special.”

Describing the fan meeting concept as a library of cherished moments to revisit during busy times, the actor shared a heartfelt message on how he wishes to be remembered: “Right now we’re very happy because we love one another. But as we become busier and go on with our busy lives, sometimes there could be a moment we could forget. A memory wherein I can go back to, remember, and cherish is something that really makes you happy. That’s the kind of person I wanted to be remembered as.”

Quizzes, Traditional Games, and Reenacting Swoon-Worthy Drama Scenes

The two-hour event presented by PULP Live World was packed with interactive segments that put Woo-seok’s playful personality on full display. During a “filmography quiz,” the star tested his memory by trying to recall a specific bus number from a iconic scene in Lovely Runner, before showing off his dance skills to Humming Urban Stereo’s “Hawaian Couple.”

Adding a unique local flavor to the night, Woo-seok attempted a modified version of the traditional Filipino street game tumbang preso. Rather than throwing a slipper by hand to knock over a can, he had to launch the slipper directly off his foot, resulting in hilarious failed attempts that had the entire arena roaring with laughter.

Throughout the night, the heartthrob also showed off his expanding Tagalog vocabulary, casually dropping phrases like “Tayo na,” “Kaya ko ‘to,” “Salamat po,” “Maganda,” and even the viral meme “Yohoo! Dito ang tingin!”

Lucky fans chosen from the audience got the ultimate dream experience:

• Interactive Games & Selfies: Joining the actor on stage for interactive challenges and taking home signed Instax selfies.
• Dramatic Reenactments: Recreating iconic romantic scenes alongside Woo-seok from Lovely Runner and History of Walking Upright.
• On-Stage Culinary Delights: Sampling Korean rolled omelettes (gyeran-mari) cooked live on stage by Woo-seok himself, playfully praising his culinary skills with local slang like “mesherep” and “malinamnam.”

Emotional Serenades, Crowd Walks, and a Promise for the Future

The musical highlights of the night proved deeply emotional. Woo-seok treated the crowd to live performances of “Sudden Shower” from the Lovely Runner soundtrack and “No Fate.” Moving off the main stage, the actor walked through the floor section to get as close as possible to his supporters, explaining: “It was really good that I could see you closer. Although I couldn’t make eye contact with everyone, I tried my best to be closer and connect to you guys.”

During the encore, the atmosphere turned tearful as thousands of fans sang “Sudden Shower” back to him in unison. Visibly moved to tears, Woo-seok confessed: “I really, really liked it. I feel like I gained so much energy back from you.”

To close out “The Secret Library,” Woo-seok performed “Fate Line” from his latest hit drama series Perfect Crown, promising to channel all the love he received into his upcoming acting projects: “I’m always very grateful and I’m thinking of ways to repay your love… But I think the best answer for me to really repay your love is to show you my best self and come up with more good projects with my good acting. And for my next project, I will do my absolute best… fueled by your love.”

Bidding a heartfelt farewell to Manila as the library doors closed, the actor left fans with one last sweet promise: “Kita-kita tayo ulit! Mahal ko kayo!” (See you again! I love you all!)

source: compiled from various sources