Lee Dong Wook - Christmas 2025, Manila Fan Meet 2025

My year-end highlight...

Last October 2025, the announcement that Lee Dong Wook will be coming to Manila for a fan meet was great news for me (after praying and hoping that he would so that I could finally see/meet him in person).

I was so ready to purchase when tickets upon announcing the date of availability arrived. I did it online, but in doing so, I encountered problems. But thankfully, I got 2 VIP tickets (one for my sister who wanted to accompany me) through the help of a fellow Neohee.

With all honesty, I have never been to a fan meeting. I promised myself that if I ever do, it will be with Lee Dong Wook. As my sister would say - "si Lee Dong Wook lang naman kilala at gusto mo." But much more than this, he is really the only one I want to see and meet - nobody else. Why would I go to any other fan meet?

On that faithful day, I had a gift ready to give him with the thought of how to give it to him. I was hoping to hand it to him personally but I do not really know how. It would be wishful thinking. Fortunately, there is a place there to drop off the gifts for him. So, I was relieved. I pray he got them.

When I entered the theater, it was still quite empty and a video was being shown, so I decided to record it (well, some of it).

And then, the star of the show came out. I was so happy seeing him. The show was so fun and engaging. His remarks and reply were so witty and laughable (and savagely appropriate haha). I do not actually need to tell you the story about what happened in the fan meet as it is all over IG, FB and YouTube. If you are curious, do find it and I promise you, you will love the videos that fans posted (my videos are useless because I was watching intently and recording at the same time, so you know what it looks like).

Then the hi-bye. Since I am first-timer, I do not really know how it goes, but my sister told me, it's really fast. I asked my sister to record me saying bye to him but cameras are not allowed. As I was queued, I do not really know where he is exactly. I just followed the line. When I saw the fan in front of me gestured "bye," I was surprised, it's already my turn! And the only words I told him while saying goodbye...I'm happy, thank you (in Korean) in which he replied, Gamsahamnida. The lady guard even gestured me to go back to the line because I stepped forward a little to say bye to him (my sister told me I stepped out a little) But to be honest, I did not know I stepped forward! Haha. See, the reason why I did not know or was not aware that it was my turn to say bye was that no one was talking and he was just waving. Were we not allowed to talk on a hi-bye session? - this was my thought. My sister was right, it was fast. After saying those words to him, I was already on the escalator thinking to myself, did I say those words right? Haha.

Indeed, I was happy before, during, and after the fan meet. I enjoyed every minute of it. I'm not sure why I miss him and his presence. And now, the desire to attend another fan meet is in my thoughts (how I wish it's that easy).

Am I the only one who noticed, he never mentioned "Neohee?" He almost did when the cake was being brought out (or did he not?). But this is just a curious thought. I am not sure if a lot of Neohee were present during the fan meet (I only know a few actually). I heard some of the attendees were not really Neohee but fans of his work, spectators, just curious about who Lee Dong Wook is and how he looks like, and those who are there because they attend every fanmeet they could of any Korean actors who come in the country. Anyhow, I hope those fans will become Neohee soon, seeing how he is so honest, not pretentious at all, charming and lovable.

I still wish for him to come back in the Philippines but not in a fan meet, maybe a fan signing event? but I know this is never done in our country. Maybe I should go to South Korea (wishful thinking again).

Indeed, this was the highlight of my 2025 and I'm grateful. There is so much to be thankful for. I am looking forward to an even greater 2026. I wish the same for you. Have a blessed and prosperous new year.