Recap: BENCH's "Moments With Ji Chang Wook" Fan Meet

Korean star Ji Chang Wook returned to Manila for another fan meet event with clothing and lifestyle brand Bench over the weekend. The event is over, and now, his fans (including us!) can't quite move on from all the moments we spent with him in this 1-hour event.

The "Bench Moments With Ji Chang Wook: The Fan Meet" was held in Smart Araneta Coliseum on August 4, 2024. Hosted by Sam Oh, the event was truly a bonding experience between Ji Chang Wook and his Filipino fans, as the segments were created to bring him closer to them.

Missed the event? Or, missing the event? Here's a recap of what went down at Ji Chang Wook's second fan meet in Manila:

The opening song number

The man of the hour emerged onstage and serenaded everyone with his song "Kissing You" from the series 7 First Kisses. After his performance, Sam asked the audience to greet Wookie warmly and welcome him back to Manila by expressing how much they love him in three languages: English: "We love you," Filipino: "Mahal ka namin, Ji Chang Wook," and Korean: "Saranghae, Ji Chang Wook!" 

Chat with Ji Chang Wook

This segment, called "Lovestruck With Bench," started with host Sam Oh introducing a behind-the-scene compilation video of Ji Chang Wook's campaign photo shoot with Bench. Asked how Bench fits into his lifestyle, he shared through a translator: "I am personally very active and, of course, I like wearing a casual style of clothing as well. That's why I think I'm a perfect fit for Bench as well." Ji Chang Wook previously endorsed a line of scents under Bench, a collaboration with the brand that also led to a fan meet event in SM Mall of Asia on November 6, 2022. 

He was then asked what he missed the most about his Filipino fans. To which, he answered, "I think it's just everything about the Filipino fans. I feel very grateful that there are fans in the Philippines that really warmly welcome me."

During this part of the event, Ji Chang Wook also revealed his next projects: the action movie Revolver (which will be released on August 7), the period drama Queen Woo (which will be released on August 29), the Disney+ drama Gangnam B-Side (which will be released later this year). "Starting next month, I will be shooting as well for a new drama, which is entitled Sculpture City, and this is a very calming and comforting time for me to spend time with the fans," he said.

Consultation with his fans

Inspired by his character Seo Jung Hoo from his hit 2014 K-drama Healer, who can solve any problem and do any task thrown his way, the next segment allowed four lucky fans to sit across Ji Chang Wook onstage and ask him questions.

The first fan asked him: "Your character in Melting Me Softly, [Ma Dong Chan], has to keep [his] heartbeat normal to survive the effect of being frozen. I get shy and freeze around people. How can I be relax and be likable to new people I just met?" Ji Chang Wook told her, "You don't need to really think deeply about impressing other people. I think it's important that you just be yourself and find people who love you. And you don't need to really try hard to impress other people and work on yourself, but be yourself and other people will like you. I think it's more than enough that you are being yourself. That's what's important." In the series, Ma Dong Chan participated in a cryogenics experiment that didn't go as planned, trapping him in a frozen capsule for 20 years.

"Just like the 'suspicious partner,' I'm always scared that if I fall in love, my partner might betray me. How can I get over this fear and just enjoy the relationship?," the second fan asked. "Grabe ang hirap ng tanong na 'to. Paano ba 'to?," the translator relayed Ji Chang Wook's comment and the audience burst into laughter. "I think you're not supposed to meet those people who give you fear of being rejected. I believe it's better that you love someone who makes you comfortable, who trusts you most, and who cares about you." Suspicious Partner is Ji Chang Wook's rom-com/legal drama released in 2017, wherein he played the character of Noh Ji Wook, a prosecutor-turned-attorney.

The third fan, a member of the Ji Chang Wook Philippines fan club, was so star-struck (who wouldn't be?!) that she couldn't ask properly and was melting from his stare. As soon as she sat across him, she commented, "Papa Jesus, ang gwapo!" We cannot agree more! Her question was: "I struggle with lack of sleep just like your character in Backstreet Rookie. How can I be successful at work and studies despite being tired sometimes?" In the middle of Ji Chang Wook's answer, the fan told him, "'Wag mo 'ko titigan nang ganyan," and the crowd erupted in cheers. "I believe there are so many things, actually, everything is really hard. But do what's important," he answered through the translator. Wookie followed this up with a long answer but his overjoyed fan was content with their interaction and just nodded in agreement and said "yes na lang" to whatever he was saying. And the rest of us in the audience no longer heard the translation, as it was time to move on to the next fan. Haha! In Backstreet Rookie, his role is a convenience store manager. 

The fourth fan's question was inspired by his character in If You Wish Upon Me, Yoon Gyeo Rye, a transformed ex-convict "who helps other people and cares for others" at a hospital providing hospice care. "What can I do to be of service to people in my own little way?," she asked him. Ji Chang Wook replied, "It's also a question that I always think through. Actually, I don't really try to impress other people. But I'm the type of person who wants to be giving happiness and comfort, giving a resting place for another person, and that's what I'm working on. It cannot be everyone but there must be someone who I can be like that to that person. So I believe this could be advice that I could give you for giving help to other people." 

"Welcome to the Philippines"

For this segment at "BENCH Moments With Ji Chang Wook: The Fan Meet," the Korean heartthrob did aegyo heart poses onscreen with his fans. But as a twist, he also told them fun and kilig Tagalog sentences! Our very own, actress and content creator Denise Laurel, was one of the lucky fans picked for this segment! Ji Chang Wook delighted everyone when he said "Bagay tayo," "Gusto kita," "Ang sweet mo," "Cute ka ngumiti," "Kumusta ka?," "Punta ka sa Korea," and "Mahal kita." 

Ji Chang Wook grants his fans' wishes

Inspired by one of his K-dramas, a segment called "If You Wish Upon Me" encouraged fans to leave post-it messages/wishes for Ji Chang Wook on a board in the fan meet's venue. They were to indicate their wishes and he'd grant them. He thoughtfully looked at the board and picked out post-its himself. Two fans got to take photos with Ji Chang Wook, and we were all green with envy! The other wishes he granted: to sing a song from his drama's OST, share a birthday message, do a five-second staring challenge, match "world peace" signs/poses, and give messages for two fans' mothers who are also his huge fans.

Reenacting his kilig K-drama scenes with his fans

Here's the part that probably got many fans thinking "Sana all!" Three fans were picked out to reenact scenes from his K-dramas. For Lovestruck in the City, in an outdoor wedding scene, one fan got to be in Kim Ji Won's Lee Eun Oh's shoes. For The Worst of Evil, a scene featuring Ji Chang Wook's Park Jun Mo and BIBI's Lee Hae Ryeon trying out the Dalgona candy challenge was shown, and a fan got to recreate that with him onstage; what's more, they even fed each other a piece of the candy! For Welcome to Samdal-ri, Ji Chang Wook's Cho Yong Pil was seen in a scene, where he's dragging Shin Hye Sun's Cho Sam Dal and she ends up giving him a back hug; well, the fan who got to do the same to Ji Chang Wook was probably the luckiest fan of the night because she got a front hug from him too! Watch this segment below!

Snaps with and message from Wookie

After which, Ji Chang Wook took photos with Bench's founder, Ben Chan, and the crowd. He then sat onstage to watch video messages from his fans, compiled for him by Bench. A song number was prepared by his fans, wherein they sang his track "Laundry" for Ji Chang Wook, who later joined in and sang along with everyone.  

He then gave a message for everyone, saying through the translator, "I'm actually very happy that it was a fun fan meeting today. I gained a lot of strength because you guys loved it also. I also realized that I would really love to have more opportunities as well to come back to the Philippines to meet you guys more often. I hope you guys really do look forward to my shows as well, and I really, really love you guys. Maraming maraming salamat po!"

Song numbers to wrap up his fan meet

Ji Chang Wook started and wrapped up his fan meet with a song number. For the last part of the event, he sang "Even Though I Loved You" and "I'll Protect You," an OST from his K-drama Healer. These performances just reminded everyone how much of an amazing singer he truly is. 

Thank you for making these memories with us, Wookie! These are moments we'll keep looking back on for a long time. Till our next meeting!  

Lead photo from @benchtm