In Photos: Hallyu Stars Who Have Endorsed Philippine Brands And Global Brands' Local Counterparts

Lee Min-Ho

Lee Min-ho has to be the OG Korean star-turned-Philippine brand ambassador! Fresh from "Boys Over Flowers" fame, we first saw him on billboards as a Bench model (a clothing and lifestyle brand he worked for more than once). He visited the Philippines in 2012 to promote his collaboration with Bench. In 2015, he also returned to Manila for an event for his endorsement with the local franchise of fried chicken chain KyoChon. Most recently, he was launched as eCommerce platform Lazada's 11.11 regional ambassador who appeared in ads with Filipina celebrity Kathryn Bernardo. What's next for Lee Min-ho is the Apple TV+ web series "Pachinko."

Photo Credit: @actorleeminho

Lee Min-Ho

Lee Min-ho for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Lee Min-Ho

Lee Min-ho for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Lee Min-Ho

Lee Min-ho for Lazada

Photo Credit: Lazada

Sandara Park

Filipinos can't ever forget Sandara Park. Rising to fame in the Philippines, the actress/singer returned to South Korea where she debuted as the member of the girl group 2NE1. Recently, she celebrated surpassing 1 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, "Dara TV." In 2015, she was launched as local clothing brand Penshoppe's endorser, who appeared in several of the brand's campaigns. In 2018, she graced a Penshoppe fancon event in Manila with fellow Hallyu star Nam Joo-hyuk.

Photo Credit: @daraxxi

Sandara Park

Sandara Park for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Sandara Park

Sandara Park for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Sandara Park

Sandara Park for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Park Seo-Joon

In just one year, the "Itaewon Class" star scored two big endorsement deals in the Philippines: one with Smart where he promotes a new way to enjoy watching online shows and a second with cosmetics brand BYS Philippines as part of their "Be the Extra in the Ordinary" campaign. In September 2019, he was in Manila, too, for an event that promoted his partnership with Bench; he even vlogged about this trip on his YouTube channel, "Record PARK's." Park Seo-joon will star in the upcoming film titled "Dream" with actress IU.

Photo Credit: @bn_sj2013

Park Seo-Joon

Park Seo-joon for Smart

Photo Credit: Smart

Park Seo-Joon

Park Seo-joon for BYS Philippines

Photo Credit: BYS Philippines

Park Seo-Joon

Park Seo-joon for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Park Shin-Hye

Her most recent film, zombie flick "#Alive," had her playing a total badass, but Park Shin-hye was a different kind of girl when she modeled for Bench. Sweet, delicate, and a style chameleon, she's always a great fit for fashion brands. She visited Manila in 2017 for a series of events with Bench. Park Shin-hye has an upcoming film titled "The Call," which will be released next month.

Photo Credit: @ssinz7

Park Shin-Hye

Park Shin-hye for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Park Shin-Hye

Park Shin-hye for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Park Shin-Hye

Park Shin-hye for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Hyun Bin

Following the phenomenal success of the K-drama "Crash Landing on You," its lead star Hyun Bin was tapped to endorse not just one but two Philippine brands: Bench and Smart. With his clothing brand endorsement, he joins the roster of "Global Benchsetters." As for Smart, he made history as its first Korean ambassador. Both brands have promised to bring Hyun Bin to Manila as soon as it's already safe to hold events. Hyun Bin also graced the cover of Metro.Style last June with an exclusive video interview.

Photo Credit: Vast Entertainment

Hyun Bin

Hyun Bin for Smart

Photo Credit: Smart

Hyun Bin

Hyun Bin for Smart

Photo Credit: Smart

Hyun Bin

Hyun Bin for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Son Ye-Jin

Does Son Ye-jin need any introduction? Riding on the success of "Crash Landing on You," Smart made her its newest ambassadress. She followed in Hyun Bin's footsteps, completing the picture for "CLOY" fanatics in the country. Recently, the skincare, makeup, and hair care products from the beauty brand Son Ye-jin endorses, Jennyhouse Cosmetics, were also finally made available in the Philippines via www.areumnl.com. And the women who brought this beauty brand to the Philippines were inspired to do so not just because of the quality of the products but also because they're fans of this Hallyu queen.

Photo Credit: Jennyhouse Cosmetics via Areum Manila

Son Ye-Jin

Photo Credit: Jennyhouse Cosmetics via Areum Manila

Son Ye-Jin

Son Ye-jin for Smart

Photo Credit: Smart

Son Ye-Jin

Son Ye-jin for Smart

Photo Credit: Smart

Lisa

K-Pop has gotten its time in the limelight too! BLACKPINK's Lisa was launched as a Penshoppe endorser last year, and it was impossible to not go anywhere in Metro Manila without seeing her billboards everywhere. Recently, this Thai singer, rapper, and dancer was introduced as the newest endorser of MAC Cosmetics.

Photo Credit: @lalalalisa_m

Lisa

Lisa for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Lisa

Lisa for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Lisa

Lisa for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Nam Joo-Hyuk

After winning hearts over with K-drama "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo," Nam Joo-hyuk is set to inspire viewers with his character in the ongoing series "Start-Up." With the popularity he gained from "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo," he reached the radar of Penshoppe and joined its roster of international endorsers. In 2018, he joined Sandara Park for a fancon with Penshoppe in Manila. Aside from "Start-Up," he also has the six-episode series "The School Nurse Files" that was released last September 25.

Photo Credit: @skawngur

Nam Joo-Hyuk

Nam Joo-hyuk for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Nam Joo-Hyuk

Nam Joo-hyuk for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Nam Joo-Hyuk

Nam Joo-hyuk for Penshoppe

Photo Credit: Penshoppe

Ji Chang-Wook

We can only imagine how much Bench's fragrance sales shot up when they made Ji Chang-wook its newest endorser for its scents! Bench was supposed to bring the "Backstreet Rookie" actor to Manila but then COVID-19 happened. Ji Chang-wook is set to star in the 12-episode drama called "City Couple's Way of Love" with actress Kim Ji-won, which will be released this coming November.

Photo Credit: @jichangwook

Ji Chang-Wook

Ji Chang-wook for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Ji Chang-Wook

Ji Chang-wook for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Ji Chang-Wook

Ji Chang-wook for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Park Hyung-Sik

The "Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon" male lead Park Hyung-sik was nothing but pure charm as an endorser of Bench apparel. Last year, he was in Manila for a fun meet event with Bench. Park Hyung-sik is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service and will be discharged on January next year.

Photo Credit: @phs116

Park Hyung-Sik

Park Hyung-sik for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Park Hyung-Sik

Park Hyung-sik for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Park Hyung-Sik

Park Hyung-sik for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Twice

All-girl K-pop group Twice worked with Bench and was launched as its endorsers in December of last year. The result of which was a colorful and stylish campaign that's hard to forget when they were shown in billboards around the metro. The nine-member group just released their second Korean studio album, "Eyes Wide Open" with the lead single "I Can't Stop Me."

Photo Credit: @twicetagram

Twice

Twice for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Twice

Twice for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Twice

Twice for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Lee Donghae and Siwon Choi

Can you believe that it's been eight years since Super Junior's Lee Donghae and Siwon Choi became Bench endorsers? They were the clothing brand's first Korean endorsers, too! The two graced a fan meet event for Bench in 2012.

Photo Credit: @leedonghae

Lee Donghae and Siwon Choi

Lee Donghae and Siwon Choi for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Siwon Choi

Siwon Choi for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Lee Donghae

Lee Donghae for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Nichkhun

This Thai-American singer rose to prominence as a member of K-Pop boy group 2PM. Aside from his achievements with his group, he also had solo albums and even appeared in TV series and films. Bench brought him to the Philippines in 2013.

Photo Credit: JYP

Nichkhun

Nichkhun for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Nichkhun

Nichkhun for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Nichkhun

Nichkhun for Bench

Photo Credit: Bench

Blackpink

The girls of Blackpink have been very this year, with a much-talked about collab with Selena Gomez for the single "Ice Cream" as well as the release of their first Korean studio album "The Album" and their Netflix documentary called "Blackpink: Light Up the Sky." Last year, Blackpink was in Manila for an event with online retailer Shopee Philippines.

Photo Credit: @blackpinkofficial

Blackpink

Blackpink for Shopee

Photo Credit: ABS-CBN News

Blackpink

Blackpink for Shopee

Photo Credit: ABS-CBN News

Blackpink

Blackpink for Shopee

Photo Credit: Hellokpop