Kim Myungsoo, also known as L from the popular K-pop band Infinite, returned to the Philippines for his REBOOT fan meeting at the New Frontier Theater on August 10. Presented by DNM Productions, the two-hour event showed the growing charms of the singer and actor.

The last time Kim Myungsoo was in Manila was during Infinite’s concert tour The Infinite Effect in 2015. While a lot has happened since then, he was warmly welcomed by his fans which he fondly calls “OVE” (a reference to his stage name L to form the word “love”), and Infinite fans known as Inspirits. There was a cup sleeve event at a nearby cafe as well as a fanhub at a nearby mall wherein fans distributed various freebies. Lamp post banners sponsored by fans also decorated the surrounding areas.

Making a dazzling entrance, Kim Myungsoo introduces himself with a new song titled “My Universe” on his newly released EP 24/7. “Kamusta? Namiss ko kayo. Gumawa tayo ng di makakalimutang alaala today,” he greeted the crowd with a bright smile.

Assisted by a Korean-Filipino translator and an emcee, Kim Myungsoo answered some fan-submitted questions in the segment “Hello, Myungsoo”. For him, this era marks a new beginning with fans hence the title “REBOOT”. He said he wants to do his best as a singer, an actor, and a member of Infinite.

Filipino OVEs and Inspirits were in great luck since they were the first international crowd to see the complete live performances from his new EP which was released just 5 days ago. When asked about his favorite song from the EP, he didn’t answer right away. Instead, he sang portions of the songs acapella and told the crowd the best time of day to listen to each one. 24/7 is an album that can be listened to for the entire day. He suggested “What’s Not to Love” as a morning starter, “Blue Summer” for the busy part of the day, and “My Universe” for the quiet hours. While he gave no explanation, he performed a snippet of the ballad “Talk to You”. At the end of it, he said “My Universe” is the best fit for the fan meeting so he went with it as his favorite.

As a seasoned idol, Kim Myungsoo showcased his exemplary vocals in singing a variety of songs, encouraging fans to shout their suggestions. He performed soundtracks from the K-dramas he starred in “Love U Like U” (from Flower Band in 2012) and “One More Time” (from One More Time in 2016). He performed a cover of Radiohead’s “Creeping”, hitting the high notes just right. To pay homage to Infinite, he gave in to sampling “Man in Love” and “Can U Smile”. He also sang Infinite’s “Real Story” in full, a treat for OG Inspirits. Myungsoo’s dancing skills were also put to the test in the Tiramisu Cake Challenge and Aespa’s “Armageddon”.

The fan meeting also gave a focus on fan interaction. Kim Myungsoo played several games with the crowd, including a relay game and an elimination game. The prizes included photocards, signed posters, and CDs. For the extra lucky fans, they were able to snap a Polaroid photo with the artist on stage.

“It has been a long time since I came here. It was really fun. I will never forget your passionate cheers,” he said to the crowd, thanking them for their support. Throughout the show, Myungsoo radiated an energetic vibe. He spoke spontaneously, asking fans again and again what they wanted to see and which songs they wanted to hear. REBOOT was indeed a fresh start for him as a soloist and a member of Infinite. He went beyond his image as the visual member of Infinite, reintroducing himself as an experienced singer and performer. The fan meeting gave him a chance to reconnect with his fans that had supported him as early as 2010.

Kim Myungsoo also spoke of his future plans which include an upcoming drama and an Infinite album in the works. “In the future, I will be sure to come back to Manila,” he added.

Special thanks to DNM Entertainment!

by Sandra Mae Laureano