On Kim Won Shik: Top and jacket by GUCCI | Photography by Stephen Capuchino View our moving cover here.

“I feel like this is my second home,” Korean actor-singer Kim Won Shik said of the Philippines, adding that his favorite Filipino dish is liempo (pork belly) with soy sauce, vinegar, and chili. “I have to mix them then put on [the] liempo.” He described it, sounding so used to how locals do it. He also recalled those times when he’d hear a familiar Filipino theme song as an ice cream cart would pass by, sharing how, apart from the ice cream itself, the sound would instantly calm and comfort him, too.

Won Shik (or Sam, his English name) has many memories of the Philippines because he not just visited the country but also lived in it for six and a half years. He and his sister studied in Davao and Manila. For this reason, he is fluent in English and can speak Filipino, too.

Without the language barrier, our shoot team could connect with him better, especially when we found out a number of us (myself included) went to the same university he attended; our building was the same too! As soon as he found that out, his face lit up! We were also delighted to have something in common with him. We all joked around and planned to take a photo altogether at the end of the shoot because we had the same alma mater.

This shoot was light and refreshing. After all, it’s not every day that we get to work with a Korean artist who we can chat with sans a translator. Won Shik picked up our creative directions quickly and would even express and verbalize his ideas so he could better pull off the poses. With one layout suggesting to have him lean by a window, the quick-witted Won Shik politely said he’d love to do as instructed but that he was worried the white pullover from the fashion stylist would get dirty. “It’s not mine,” he said charmingly, gently pointing to his top.

Though fairly new in the entertainment scene, Won Shik was professional and natural in front of the camera. He knew his angles and transitioned from one pose to another so smoothly. His level of understanding of what goes on behind the scenes and what’s required for a shoot just goes to show that he has spent a lot of time in different sets, and like a sponge, absorbed the proper mindset towards work.

His life’s turning point

Won Shik took up entrepreneurship in college. “My dream was becoming the president of a car company,” he told Metro.Style. But the direction of his life rerouted when he was offered to become a trainee for an idol group.

What paved the way for that is interestingly Park Shin Hye’s fan meet in Manila. As the story goes, Won Shik’s sister was a huge fan of the Korean actress and wanted to go to the event. “I really wanted to bring her there,” he shared, adding that he even had to break the bank to afford the tickets for it. So after seeing a brochure for the event, he somehow got connected to the head of the event’s ticketing company and eventually met the manager of Park Shin Hye. Out of the blue, he got an offer from this manager for idol training in South Korea. Not one to let an opportunity like that pass, Won Shik packed his bags and left Manila to try out this career.

Won Shik trained for two years. Unfortunately, the company he joined shut down. And when his contract ended, he returned to studying in Korea. Once he was done with school, he realized he really wanted to be part of the entertainment industry.

But, Won Shik shared, “I had no one to, you know, push me or support me to pursue my dream.” So, he took it upon himself to learn the craft by enrolling in a school to learn film arts. Then, he narrated, “I got an opportunity to sing on the program, which is really famous in Korea, named I Can See Your Voice.” That stint led him to meet the people behind his current agency in Korea, Inn Company, the same agency that handles the career of top Korean actress Eugene of The Penthouse: War in Life.

The beauty of chance

Won Shik’s agency then gave him a chance to audition for the K-drama True Beauty, starring Cha Eun Woo, Moon Ga Young, and Hwang In Youp. “I got into that series. But, of course, that was my first time. I was so grateful. That was the role I have always dreamt of,” said Won Shik, who played the role of one of the students in the series. “But, you know, of course, to someone, it’s nothing because it was just [an] extra. They might think it’s an extra or a small role. But for me, it was a big stepping stone… to get to where I want to go.”

The next K-drama he had a stint in was Alchemy of Souls (Season 1). He only had a few lines there, so he said, “Somebody would say, ‘Oh, was he there?’ I was there actually. And we call it fixed extras… We always go there to shoot with the main cast. And I really learned a lot from the main cast when they were acting, I had the chance to see the monitors, how they act.”

What further proved to be a training ground and breakthrough project for him was the 12-episode reality dating show Love Like a K-drama, where four Korean actors lived together and paired up with four Japanese actresses as they all auditioned and tried to get lead roles in the show’s six mini K-dramas, each featuring a kissing scene. The show also aimed to present whether it is indeed possible to fall in love with a co-actor during shooting.

“That was the first time that I really talked a lot in a show, and I had my own role… with a lot of lines to deliver. It felt really good,” the Metro Man cover star said, smiling at the memories of a challenging yet fun learning experience.

Won Shik’s acting abilities, hardworking personality, kindness, and charisma shone in the show. In episode 2, for instance, Won Shik and his partner, Honoka, won the audition, landing them the lead roles in the mini K-drama “Two Kisses, One Love” which featured a love triangle. Seoul Institute of the Arts former professor Hwang Doo Jin complimented the pair and specifically commented on Won Shik’s acting: “I think Won Shik was the strongest of the men today. He was shy at the beginning, that was a nice choice. He built up the courage to invite her to share the ramen and his face lit up when she accepted. It was a clear journey for the character and supported the scene.”

Kim Won Shik with 'True Beauty' lead star Cha Eun Woo Photo from @shigishigi93

Kim Won Shik with 'True Beauty' lead star Moon Ga Young Photo from @shigishigi93

Kim Won Shik with 'True Beauty' lead star Hwang In Youp Photo from @shigishigi93

Kim Won Shik with 'Alchemy of Souls' lead star Lee Jae Wook Photo from @shigishigi93

Kim Won Shik with top Korean actress Eugene Photo from @shigishigi93

Establishing himself in Philippine showbiz

With Love Like a K-drama showing a marriage of cultures and consequently introducing him to the Japanese audience, Won Shik has shown how determined he is to establish himself as an artist not just in Korea but also abroad.

And with his strong connection with the Philippines, coupled with his striking appeal and talent, it was only a matter of time before he caught the attention of a management agency and record label. He’s currently under the roster of artists of Universal Records Philippines, thanks to its managing director, Kathleen Dy-Go, who saw a huge potential in Won Shik.

In February 2023, even before Love Like a K-drama was released later that year, Won Shik appeared in Universal Records Philippines’ first-ever mini series titled Pag-Ibig Na Kaya alongside Filipino artists Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose, and South Korean-German singer Jayden. Pag-Ibig Na Kaya marked the first time he worked with Filipino actors and a Filipino production team, and he loved the mood and energy on the set.

Fortunately for him and his fans, that won’t be the first and last time he is appearing in a Filipino series. Won Shik has been going back and forth between the Philippines and South Korea for various commitments. Recently, he was in Manila to work on new music, do shoots, and attend events to help promote the Philippine adaptation of the series What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim where he has a guest role. The project holds a special place in his heart because the late Dreamscape head Deo Endrinal was the one who handpicked him for this role that serves as yet another important stepping stone for him.

The experience was filled with a lot of memorable firsts again, starting with the opportunity to work with the show’s lead stars, Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino.

In What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, Won Shik plays the role of Daniel Park who he describes as a rival of Paulo’s character. He shared that he and his onscreen character are different from one another, further allowing us to get to know him better. Whereas Daniel Park is “intimidated,” Won Shik said he’s the type who’s more positive, active, and hospitable. And as we observed during this shoot, he is gentle yet passionate, confident, and meticulous.

“It was hard for me to act because it’s totally different. But I did my best… I put more effort into it… The whole What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim team/family helped me a lot to finish it,” he said.

His involvement in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, which started streaming on Viu last March 18, isn’t limited to the guest role. As a singer, he also contributed to the show’s OST with the soon-to-be-released song “To Be With You.”

During the media conference of the show earlier this month, Won Shik not only participated in the Q&A but also performed his song onstage for the first time, much to the crowd’s delight. Ever since the start of his career, his journey has always been marked by fate, and the story of how this song found the perfect singer in him and eventually the platform for the release is an example of that.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Universal Records Philippines (@universalrecordsph)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Universal Records Philippines (@universalrecordsph)

“My boss here, my manager in the Philippines, who’s Ms. Kathleen Dy-Go, just let me hear the track, and when I heard it, it was really good. And I told her, it’s really good. I can repeat it again and again. It’s really easy to memorize. And then she said, ‘We can record it,’” Won Shik narrated, adding how the track ended up in What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim PH OST. “And then Ms. Kath was like, ‘Oh now, we have the song.’ And then she didn’t know where to use it. She was waiting for the time when we could use it. And then she met Ms. Garlic Garcia [head of Content Partnerships] from Viu… she let her hear the song and then she really loved it… That was how my song was chosen for the show.”

As of this writing, Won Shik would already be back in South Korea. But plans to return to Manila soon are already in place. He’s already dipped his toes in Philippine showbiz and his next goals include making waves here. With a country so supportive of the Hallyu wave and the Korean artists and culture, it’s a dream that isn’t far-fetched.

For this rising artist, the Philippines will always be a top-of-mind destination. His favorite spot in the country is Boracay because of the beautiful sunset there and how its skies are filled with stars. He has always loved the Philippines and its people, and more and more Filipinos are loving him back for who he is and what he does. It won't be surprising if, in the near future, he would finally be among the stars he would only look up to before. Who knows, headlining a fan meet event, where it all began for him, could also happen for him sooner than he thinks?! Really, nothing is impossible for someone who puts his mind, heart, and soul into his craft.

Welcome home, Kim Won Shik!

Here's a behind-the-scene look at our cover shoot:

Check out the lyric video of 'To Be With You' below:

Photographer: Stephen Capuchino

Creative direction: Grace Libero-Cruz

Sittings editor: Red Dimaandal

Videographers: Ara Tanagon, Alain Capiral, Kris Blanco, and Dolly Hernandez of Spotlight Creatives Studio

Grooming: Team Muriel Vega Perez for NARS

Hairstylist: Jaaron Go of Culture Salon MNL

Stylists: John Lozano, Angelica Yabut, and Marlon Morelos

Editorial assistant: Mika Yusay

Photography assistant: Jobo Antonio Nacpil

All clothes by GUCCI

Special thanks to Kathleen Dy-Go of Universal Records Philippines, Grace Foronda, Nikki Sindiong, and Manam Comfort Filipino

Related Story: Get to Know Korean Actor-Singer Kim Won Shik