Will you marry South Korean actor-singer Lee Hong Gi?

SINGAPORE - The future wife of South Korean actor-singer Lee Hong Gi could find his wedding proposal to her familiar if she is a fan of romantic dramas and movies.

Lee, 24, says: "My ideal wedding proposal will be to surprise her with balloons flying out of the car boot. There will be one balloon with a ring attached to it. I've seen this scene in the movies and dramas.

"But I will probably not be able to do it in real life because I'm too shy."

He was talking to Life! yesterday while in town for his 2014 Lee Hong Gi's Proposal In Singapore fan meet at Resorts World Theatre tonight. It will be his first time meeting fans here by himself.

At the 90-minute fan meet, one lucky fan will be picked to receive the "most heart-fluttering and romantic proposal" by Lee, according to the organiser.

Lee's previous visits here were with the four members of his band, FTIsland, who were most recently here serenading a 4,000-strong crowd at their full- length concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in March. Arguably the most popular member of the quintet, he held solo fan meets in Taipei and Hong Kong last month.

Asked to describe his ideal wife, he says she must be willing to let her own career take a backseat to his.

"The girl I marry will be someone whom I am at ease with at home, someone I can seek advice from. Instead of someone who is very busy with her own career, I would like someone I can really depend on to take care of the home."

The former child actor, who most recently stole female hearts as a dashing heir of a department store in the fantasy romance Bride Of The Century (2014), has been branching out into a different field from show business.

He launched his fashion brand Skull Hong last month and has a website selling his self-designed accessories and tops, many adorned with his favourite skull motif.

"My fans are like me, they have a unique fashion sense. I wanted the brand to be a bridge between me and them. I've infused my style and personality into the brand."

He was decked-out in an all-white ensemble, complete with Skull Hong rings which drew attention to the surprising fact that, for a man who loves nail art, he had bare nails.

"I am not wearing nail art now because I'm currently filming my new drama Modern Farmer. I can't get my nails done now," he explains.

He started getting his nails done three to four years ago, after someone in the fashion industry commented that he would look good with nail art. Last year, he released a book titled Lee Hong Gi Nail Book, a best-seller in South Korea and Japan. The book includes nail art tips and shots of the fashionista with his elaborate nail art.

He is unfazed by critics who say real men do not get their nails done.

"Initially, people had negative views of men doing nail art. As my book explains, nail art is just part of fashion. People should change their mindset."

nggwen@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on July 19, 2014.
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