Romantic meeting

Star spends Valentine’s Day with his fans

By Suwitcha Chaiyong

The South Korean TV variety show We Got Married, which features celebrities pretending to be married couples, is popular locally and internationally. A lot of rising stars have gained new fans through the show, including 25-year-old actor Hong Jong Hyun.

On the show, Jong Hyun’s on-screen wife was Girl’s Day singer Kim Yura. The actor’s personal charm and the couple’s great chemistry together made many viewers fall in love with them.

On Valentine’s Day on February 14, Jong Hyun was in Thailand for his Hong Jong Hyun Be My Valentine Fan Meeting in Bangkok event.

LOVELY EVENT

The fan meeting at GMM Live House kicked off with Jong Hyun singing the ballad, “Like a Child.” Despite having a good voice, the actor was shy and awkward as he sang. Jong Hyun admitted that he felt nervous during the rehearsal when he saw so many empty seats in the hall, but when he came onstage for the event, the loud screams of the fans made him forget some of the song’s lyrics.

At the end of the fan meeting, Jong Hyun was surprised to see a video and sweet message cards made by his Thai fans. He was very happy, saying that he hadn’t expected to receive such a special present.

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At the fan meeting and at a press conference the day before at the Aetas Lumpini, Jong Hyun answered questions from reporters and fans. Here is some of what the star had to say.

Question: Since you used to be a model, what is your favourite fashion style?

Jong Hyun: I like anything casual.

Question: Have you had any chance recently to catch up with old friends from your modelling days, like Lee Soo Hyuk and Kim Woo Bin?

Jong Hyun: We haven’t seen one another recently because of our hectic schedules. But when we do meet, we usually exercise or watch a movie together.

Question: When you act in dramas, you usually have a calm personality. Are you like that in real life?

Jong Hyun: Generally I’m pretty quiet. But if I know somebody well I’m happy to talk a lot and play pranks.

Question: What would you do if you were in the same situation as your character in Mama, in which you play a guy who falls in love with a sick single mom?

Jong Hyun: I’d adopt her son and take care of him. I’d also try to find a way to cure my wife.

Question: As a former TV host of the music programme, Inkigayo, which singers did you particularly like?

Jong Hyun: When I was a host, Girl’s Day hadn’t released their debut single yet. If they were active at that time, I would have liked them.

Question: How do you feel about being on We Got Married?

Jong Hyun: At the beginning, Kim Yura and I didn’t know what to do because we didn’t know each other. But after we got to know each other, we started to tease each other. We had a lot of fun filming the show.

Question: What did you learn from the show?

Jong Hyun: I learned how happy some couples are. Before the show, I never thought about marriage, but it showed me what things could be like after a wedding. I think it’s good to be more like friends than husband and wife.

Question: What do you like to do in your free time?

Jong Hyun: I like to hang out with friends or have a long sleep.

Question: Do you like roller skates?

Jong Hyun: I like anything with wheels, including roller skates, bicycles, cars and radio-controlled cars. When I feel stressed, I either exercise or make a radio-controlled car, which usually takes me about three days. I have a lot of them at my place now.

Question: Many Thais know about Seoul’s famous Myeong Dong shopping area, but what other places would you recommend for Thai visitors in South Korea?

Jong Hyun: Myeong Dong is very crowded. I’d recommend visiting a quiet place like Jeju Island. That’s a place I like because my family used to live there. I’ve been there often, so I can recommend it to my fans.

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