Byeon Woo-seok returns with more intimate Singapore fan-meet, goes to stalls to meet fans

When Byeon Woo-seok held his first Singapore fan-meet in 2024, he promised his fans he would return.

Two years later, he came back and took his fanservice a step further.

Woo-seok, who turns 34 next month, shot to stardom after playing the beloved character Ryu Sun-jae in the hit 2024 K-drama Lovely Runner, and he returned to the small screens this year with Perfect Crown.

While his first show in Singapore felt more like a thank-you letter to Sun-jae and his new fans, The Secret Library fan-meet on Sept 18 looked back at his decade-long acting career and celebrated where he stands now.

Opening the fan-meet at The Star Theatre with a cover of Flower Road by Daybreak, Woo-seok ran in with his signature dimpled smile, setting the cheery tone for the rest of the sold-out show.

After the song, he greeted the audience: "I'm so excited to see you again after two years. Let's have fun tonight, okay?"

Focused on waving at fans after his short introduction, he was so occupied with interacting with every supporter in front of him that emcee April Kim stepped in to invite him to sit down.

April delivered Tong Tongs' (fandom name) sentiments for him to return again after this at a bigger venue, but the heartthrob smoothly remarked to the audience: "Don't you like it when I'm closer to you?"

For fans who missed the previous show, Woo-seok sang Sun-jae's love song Sudden Shower before going backstage for an outfit change.

Returning with a new hairstyle and a leather jacket draped over a white shirt, he performed No Fate, another song from Lovely Runner which he didn't sing at the last show.

After he sang the last line "In the end, you and I will meet", he swiftly declared: "I'm going to come and see you!", and the screams that erupted made it clear Tong Tongs didn't expect what happened next.

Woo-seok walked off-stage and through the stalls on the first floor to greet fans up close, and some were lucky enough to get selfies and hand hearts.

He later said he felt sorry to the fans on the upper floors as he couldn't go up due to safety concerns but made up for it by posing for them and sending hearts from the stage.

'More comfortable' these days

At his 2024 fan-meet, Woo-seok had been new to the sudden fame and attention, and one could tell he wasn't completely relaxed on stage.

When he was shown a video compilation of messages fans had prepared for him, he cried then.

At the recent show, he told the audience: "Two years ago, I was a little too nervous so it was kind of difficult, but these days because I am a little more comfortable, I try my best to look at each and every one of my fans."

The confidence he gained over the two years was evident in how he spoke and navigated through the different Q&As and game challenges, including one where he re-enacted scenes from his older works Office Watch (2017) and 20th Century Girl (2022).

Small notes containing messages from fans were delivered to him on stage and not a single tear was shed, which he made sure to proudly highlight: "I'm not crying!"

But his shy and endearingly awkward personality — arguably one of his charms — is still there, showing up in short moments of awkward silence followed by sheepish laughter, as well as clumsy handling of the stage props he would continuously apologise over.

In the segment where he whipped up a Korean-style egg roll for three Tong Tongs on stage, a few chopsticks were toppled over, some time was spent picking eggshells out of the batter and the ketchup was haphazardly splattered on the plates in the shape of deformed hearts, and it felt like we were watching Woo-seok at home, away from the bright lights and cameras.

Came out to see fans waiting at the car park

The fan-meet ran for 2.5 hours before it was time for him to go.

In the final VCR before he performed his last song, his Perfect Crown OST Fate Line, a letter was shown to express his love towards fans.

"Dear Tong Tongs, the main character of all my stories. If I were to leave my story as a book, you would definitely appear the most in it... With more sincerity than anyone else, I will continue to give my best, so when you are tired or lonely, I hope you find comfort in seeing me."

After the show, a crowd of fans lined the street at the exit of Star Vista's car park hoping to see Woo-seok as he exited the venue.

They waited for close to two hours in the sweltering heat before he showed up wearing a black mask a few minutes past midnight.

He walked out of the gantry to get closer to fans, waving and thanking them.

Responding to their good-nights and I-love-yous, Woo-seok got into his van and rolled down the windows to give one final goodbye.

AsiaOne spoke to a few fans and found out some had flown down from Malaysia and Thailand for the fan-meet and wanted to catch another glimpse of him before they headed back to their hotels.

When a security guard asked if the long wait was worth it, the fans nearby responded with a simultaneous and resounding yes.

Woo-seok is currently filming his next drama, the highly anticipated live action series of the popular South Korean web novel and anime Solo Leveling.

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syarifahsn@asiaone.com

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