KOREAN superstar Hyun Bin may have played many unforgettable characters, from the stoic yet tender Captain Ri in Crash Landing on You to a string of action heroes, but on Aug. 8 at Solaire Resort Entertainment City, he showed Manila a version of himself that was both effortlessly stylish and unexpectedly playful.
The 42-year-old hallyu star arrived at the Grand Ballroom to meet the local press wearing a tailored, loose cream-colored suit over a plain white shirt, paired with cream trousers and cream sneakers with white midsoles. The look was finished with a casual watch featuring a white strap (understated yet meticulous, much like the man himself).
This was his first time in the country, visiting as Solaire’s brand ambassador ahead of the 2025 release of his new period political drama Made in Korea on Disney+. The press conference came just before his fan meet at the resort, entry to which was raffled off to guests with July receipts from Solaire.
The program featured 10 pre-selected questions; each answered with the help of an interpreter. During the Q and A, he talked about wanting to exude a “comfortable vibe” to Filipino supporters and admitted that no words could truly express how thankful he was for their love through the years.
“Of course, I have to show you the side of myself as a Solaire ambassador,” he said when asked what side of himself he hoped people would see. “And, now that I’m here in the Philippines, I got to meet the fans as well. And I would like to give the vibe that we’re closer now… a comfortable vibe as well to the Filipino fans.”
On the support he’s received over the years, Hyun Bin admitted, “No words can explain how I feel. I’m very speechless about the amount of love and support I receive. And, of course, I’m very grateful, very thankful. That becomes my strength to become a better actor… the love and support that the fans give me is definitely going to be a strength for all of my career.”
Looking back on his early career, he said he would tell his younger self: “You can still enjoy in that moment… enjoy the crowd, the surroundings, rather than just going forward towards your goal.”
On dream roles, he noted, “There are [more] roles that I haven’t tried than the roles that I have tried… the roles that I really didn’t try yet are the roles that I want to be challenged with.”
As for Korean storytelling’s global appeal, he credited the hard work of directors and crews, adding, “I am just an actor who is portraying and playing the role with sincerity to put out the storytelling to the people who are watching.”
On Solaire, his luxurious home base throughout his stay in Manila, he shared, “It’s more than just an ordinary resort… it’s a place that we can kind of make experiences or make memories. I want to let more people know about Solaire Resort.” He also revealed he had already tasted adobo, calling it “delicious.”
To wrap up the formal event, Hyun Bin skipped the stairs altogether and hopped right off the stage to get closer to the press for a photo op. It wasn’t planned (you could tell by how his security detail reacted), but the spontaneous move instantly won over the local media.
