By Sandra Mae Laureano

If you weren’t a fan of Lee Jin Hyuk before going to his fan meeting at the New Frontier Theater last Saturday, you would immediately be converted into one right after stepping out of the venue. On December 14, the 23-year old K-Pop artist held his first fan meeting in Manila, and he instantly captured a lot of hearts with his candid demeanor and dazzling positivity. Much like his famed nickname “Baby Sun”, he showed that he can be an energizing ray of optimism and fun that his fans (called “V-Dans”) need.

Lee Jin Hyuk first made his debut as a rapper of the ten-member boy group UP10TION in 2015. Four years later, he joined the (in)famous boy group survival reality show Produce X 101. While he didn’t make the cut, his participation in the show portrayed his many charms which, in turn, earned him the favor and interest of the general public. And what exactly are those charms? Read on to find out more.

#1 Lee Jin Hyuk is naturally bubbly and funny.

During the Q&A session, Jin Hyuk was so eager to speak. Sunny Kim, the emcee for the event, asked the questions in English. A translator who was beside him onstage relayed the message to him. He often answered in Korean while Sunny translated his words to the crowd. However, Jin Hyuk sometimes went the extra mile by expressing himself through sound effects and improvised actions.

For instance, when asked if he had already tried any Filipino food, he said he hadn’t, but backstage, his fans gave him a gift. He then acted out unveiling a certain item, his eyes widening in surprise and gave out a resounding “woah” and said something like “there was a small pig”. As it turned out, that was his first time to see the Filipino delicacy lechon (roasted suckling pig). He said he wasn’t able to try it at that time (probably because he didn’t know how to eat it), but he was certainly intrigued. He promised to try it after the show.

The fan meeting also included a slideshow of HYUKSTAGRAM (photos he posted on his Instagram) in different scenarios of daily life. It showed him taking a walk, doing photoshoots, taking selfies. Sunny remarked that even though he’s sweaty, he still looks good. Jin Hyuk wittily replied, “because I’m hot,” which had the crowd cheering and laughing. “Like the sun!” he exclaimed.

#2 He takes games very seriously. And yes, he tries his best in each one, too.

The fan meeting had a series of games, and Jin Hyuk was more than willing to take on the challenge. There was tumbang preso wherein he was given a giant rubber slipper to topple down a giant can. The catch: the slipper was extremely lightweight and would fly off in unwanted directions when hurled with full force. Jin Hyuk was in full-concentration mode as he tried repeatedly (and failed repeatedly as well), but with his determination, he actually succeeded. As a victory ceremony, he jumped around as if he won a huge tournament.

He also aced the 2X speed dance for his title track “I Like That”, did ten push-ups, showed three aegyo poses, shot through rows of balloons, and danced “Havana” like a pro during the random play dance game. Although it must have been tiring, the bright smile on his face never faltered.

One of the most memorable outcomes of the evening was the morning call challenge. Basically, he was tasked to create an alarm for the fans. He was hesitant at first, but he blurted out “Good morning, sweet darling”. As much as the fans were delighted, Jin Hyuk found himself uncontrollably laughing out of embarrassment. He even forbade V-Dans to post it on SNS, but of course, the recording found its way across the net. As a follow up to this, he also made a good night version in his V-Live two nights after the event.

#3 His rapper name would be MASA-RAP.

Jin Hyuk is mainly a rapper, but he has yet to be given a rapper name. Fortunately, Filipino V-Dans were smart enough to give him the name “MASA-RAP” which means “delicious”. Jin Hyuk, amused by the pun, tried on the name for a bit and did a short rap.

#4 When he takes the stage, he owns it.

After debuting as a solo artist last month, Lee Jin Hyuk is starting to make a name for himself as a performer. His album S.O.L gives a taste of his formidable rapping skills matched with his alluring stage presence. He performed the catchy “I Like That”, the dark “Villein” and the melodic “Follow Me & You” and he shone through all of them. While he might seem to be a goofball in daily life, he gets intensely serious for his live performances.

Trivia: When asked which song is his favorite, he said he liked all 3 songs equally because it showed his different sides.

#5 Jin Hyuk 60% legs. Literally.

Get this: Jin Hyuk is 185 cm tall. His legs are 110 cm long. This was measured by Sunny Kim using an actual tape measure. The title “Daddy Long Legs” really does suit him.

#6 He greatly values his V-Dans and HONEY10.

One of Jin Hyuk’s most endearing qualities is his receptivity towards his fans. During the fan meeting, he wasn’t focused in being the center of attention. He was also keen on hearing what his fans had to tell him. Fortunately for him, Filipino V-Dans and HONEY10 (fans of UP10TION) were more than willing to let themselves be heard. He patiently listened to the jeers and cheers of the audience when they chanted “walang uuwi” and suggested the MASA-RAP rapper name.

He also looks directly at his fans, in anticipation for their reaction to his words. At one point, he even mimicked a fan’s bewildered expression when he answered the question about his upcoming drama. (Another trivia: He was cast in a drama titled The Way He Remembers which is scheduled to air on March 2020.) He couldn’t reveal the fine details, but he gave out a hint: His role had something to do in the venue at that time. It was such a vague reply which probably explains the fan’s reaction.

Near the end of the evening, fans had a surprise for Lee Jin Hyuk. When he was asking the crowd to pose for a photo, suddenly a tribute video made by his fans was flashed on the screen. The video included snippets of his time with UP10TION up to his moments as a solo artist. Jin Hyuk, visibly taken aback, expressed his sincere appreciation for V-Dans and HONEY10 fans, saying he wouldn’t be here without them. He vowed to develop his skills as an artist and actor and to come back soon.

As a bonus, everyone in the crowd got to hi-touch Jin Hyuk before leaving the theater! What a perfect way to end the evening!

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LEE JIN HYUK S.O.L 1ST SOLO FAN MEETING in Manila is presented by TOP Media, Ganada Company, and CDM Entertainment. Special thanks to CDM Entertainment for the invitation to the event.