This 2019, I have seen a lot of gems in the KDrama world. It’s either they are a rookie one or a not-so-rookie but it’s my first time watching a KDrama that they are part of. Although there are many actors and actresses to look forward to in the coming years, I have chosen my ten (10) new loves.

Lee Jae Wook

A lot of people got mad at him for his role as Baek Kyung in Extraordinary You. Well, it’s true. His character there is very irritating which makes me feel more hooked with him. He is so good in acting that you may really want to get mad at the actor (and not his character anymore lol).

But aside from his acting skills, the main reason why I am looking forward for more of him is that, he has a great personality. He is really different from Baek Kyung. I have been seeing a lot of fan cams and behind the scenes videos where he shows his playfulness not only with the people he is working with, but also with his fans.

I can’t wait to see more of him this coming 2020!

Kim Hye Yoon

If I were to choose one best actress, she would be probably at the top of my list. I knew Kim Hye Yoon since Sky Castle. Just like how other people got irritated with Baek Kyung in Extraordinary you, I also got irritated with her character Kang Yeh Suh in Sky Castle. But another twist, I liked her character Kim Dan Oh in Extraordinary You.

Two different characters yet she was able to portray it well. When I was watching Extraordinary You, I totally forgot that she is also the Kang Yeh Suh in Sky Castle. What does it mean? It means that Kim Hye Yoon can totally change herself to the character she is into. And that definitely makes a good artist.

Kim Dong Hee

I started following Kim Dong Hee ever since the web drama A-Teen. Since he is just a rookie actor, he has no big projects yet. Until, Sky Castle happened. Although he isn’t really a main character there, he still showed how great he can be.

His character in A-Teen and Sky Castle were also different. Which made me realize that I usually fall in love with their characters and not with the actors. I mean, I like him so much as Ha Min in A-Teen but I am not so into him with his character in Sky Castle. But I still support him in whatever character he portrays. I hope more people will notice him especially on his new drama “Itaewon Class” along with Park Seo Jun.

Bae Hyun Sung

The actor who I refer to as the little brother of Park Bo Gum. At first glance, he really looks like Park Bo Gum. But aside from that, I fell in love with him during Love Playlist Season 4. His character, “Park Ha Neul”, is so cute that I want to pinch him on his cheeks.

I wasn’t following him on his SNS accounts which surprised me that he was actually a part of Extraordinary You. His character in Extraordinary You was Baek Kyung’s brother (not biologically tho). I was waiting more for his character there, but he wasn’t given much exposure. I hope 2020 will be a good year for him!

Shin Ye Eun

She is one of my favorite actresses ever since I got to watch her on A-Teen. Plus points were she was also the actress on DAY6’s Shoot Me MV. Upon researching more about her, I learned that Shin Ye Eun and Kim Dong Hee are from JYP Entertainment which made me like them even more (because I am a JYP Stan!).

But honestly, I haven’t watched her drama with Jinyoung. It’s not because I don’t want it but I still have no time to start it. I still have a lot of pending KDramas to watch. But I will watch it soon. I am also looking forward for her drama with Myungsoo next year. I can’t wait to see their chemistry.

Jung Gun Joo

I am not so sure if I first saw him as the actor on DAY6’s I Like You or his web drama “Why”. But he already got my attention from those. I didn’t know I could fall for him more when I watched Extraordinary You. The second lead syndrome attacked. I was really looking forward to him being the one chosen but he ended up being heart-broken.

What I like about Jung Gun Joo is that he has this beautiful smile. Although he can act as silly sometimes, his smile never fades.

Kim Young Dae

While watching Extraordinary You, I keep on thinking on where I saw him. Upon researching, he is the main actor in the web drama “What to do With You (2018)”. I have watched that web drama but I really did not follow him at those time. Although his character in Extraordinary You was not that “main-type”, I am lowkey hoping to see him more on the small screen as the main character.

Lee Do Hyun

I don’t know why but I keep on seeing Jung Hae In in him. Maybe because of his smile or what? I have seen him at Hotel Del Luna and was actually rooting that Manwol will still choose him. Unfortunately, she didn’t.

Even if I only saw a glimpse of him on that drama, I fell in love with him immediately. I hope I’ll get to watch a rom-com drama with him as the main lead. Oh, and I love him with his very long hair.

Lee Tae Sun

Another Hotel Del Luna actor. Just like how I saw Do Hyun as Jung Hae In, I also see Tae Sun as SF9’s Chanhi. In fact, I thought that it was Chanhi who was playing his role on Hotel Del Luna. The main reason why I am rooting for him is because he acts well whether it be on a historical setting or modern setting.

Lee Jun Young

He is not a new actor. He is not even new in this industry. But this is my first time encountering him. I did not follow U-Kiss, or even UNB. But if you did, well, you probably know Jun. I started knowing him with his drama “The Class of Lies.” It has been the talk of the town so I got intrigued with it. A lot of people are saying that it is the second Sky Castle. Although this one is darker, it still shows how suck the education system in Korea is.

Junyoung is a psychopath here. I shouldn’t be liking him, right? But I ended up liking him. He acts so good that even if you like him, you’ll get mad and irritated with him. Recently, I have been following him on his twitter and saw that he debuted as a solo artist. I really liked his song “Curious”. It has been playing around my head for quite some time now.

I will be a lowkey fan of Junyoung and wait for his new drama or new song.

So here are my top 10 new loves. How about you? Who is your new loves and why are you rooting for them this 2020?

This 2019, I have attended more or less 30 Korean concerts and fan meetings. A lot, right? I never thought I would get the chance to attend a lot of k-events this year. I was not able to write a blog about those events, but that doesn’t mean I forgot all of those. Instead of writing those backlogs, I will just be choosing my top three (3) concerts and top three (3) fan meetings that I have attended this 2019.

CONCERTS

#3 TWICE “TWICELIGHTS” in Manila

TWICELIGHTS in Manila happened last June 29, 2019 at the Mall of Asia Arena. To be very honest, I never thought I’ll get to watch TWICE this year. The tickets for their concert were sold out fast and I wasn’t lucky enough to get one! But thanks to kpopchannel.tv, they gave me the chance to cover the concert.

Why is this concert my top 3? First, it’s because TWICELIGHTS in Manila is the first concert of TWICE. Being a fan of them ever since debut (well, I’m actually rooting for them ever since SIXTEEN era), this will be my first time seeing them as a group. If you were with me during the whole concert, you’re gonna see that I was crying even on their first song. Weird, right? But I don’t know. I feel so happy that I’m finally seeing my girls.

Second, it’s because you can see that everyone in the arena are ONCEs and not just some people who wants to see TWICE because they are “famous”. The fanchants were so loud, not to mention that the fanchants were composed of mainly fanboys.
Although the girls were not in their best condition, I know they did their very best to perform and smile for the fans. I can’t wait to see them again. I just hope, this time, I’ll get to buy my own ticket, somewhere nearer to the stage.

#2 SF9 UNIXERSE in Manila

SF9 UNIXERSE in Manila was held at the New Frontier Theater last November 16, 2019. Let me tell you this. I am not (yet, but getting there) a fan of SF9. I only know Rowoon (because of Extraordinary You), Chani (because of Sky Castle) and Inseong (because of We K-POP). The rest, I have no idea who they are. So before attending their concert, I tried to memorize their names and songs.

But why is this concert my top 2 concert? It’s because the concert is very intimate. It’s not a big concert, in fact it wasn’t even a sold out one. But that concert made me feel like I am stanning SF9 for a long time already. I don’t feel out of place. This is the second time I felt like this. The first time was during Winner in Manila.

Their songs were all good! Most of the songs of this generation don’t give me that much impact but listening to SF9’s songs makes me want to put them all in my playlist. Their songs are worth listening to. Although their genre wasn’t my type, I can still vibe into it.

There were a lot of imperfections in the concert, in terms of the technical side. But that doesn’t change the fact that SF9 and their fans enjoyed that night. It may be a small concert, but it’s worth attending to.

#1 Super Junior SS8 in Manila

SS8 in Manila was held at the Mall of Asia Arena last December 15, 2019. Oh yes. I’m biased. Haha. Well, for me SS8 in Manila is the best concert this 2019. A lot of you may know that Super Junior is my ultimate bias group so maybe you’re thinking that it is the main reason why this is the best concert.

The reasons why this concert is the best because first, I have waited for this time to come. The active members were almost complete. It’s the first concert in PH after Ryeowook’s and Kyuhyun’s discharged from the military. I missed these two vocalists last SS7. So seeing them perform and hearing them live again is what I am really looking forward to.

Second, almost all the songs they performed were from their past albums. Meaning, I know most of it. Recently, I haven’t been actively listening to their b-tracks because I am a little busy to do so. I only know their title tracks. But this time, they performed their classic songs. They also sang “No Other” which is my all-time favorite.

Third, because Donghae (my bias) always comes to my side. Last SS7, I was a bit disappointed with Donghae because he barely comes to our side. But this SS8, he was always at our side and I am so happy to it. I got to see him very close. Plus, he also just showed his perfectly toned body (lol).

But aside from all of these, I consider this the best concert because it’s the only concert where I got my PCD of Post-Concert Depression. The last time I had PCD was during Wanna One’s concert in Manila. And this time, up until now, I still want to return to that time. I miss them. I want to see them again. All the feels came back. I promise to come to their concert again no matter what happens.

Fan Meeting

#3 Lee Jinhyuk S.O.L. in Manila

Okay. I had a hard time choosing with Bae Jinyoung’s, Jung Hae In’s and Lee Jinhyuk’s fan meeting. But after a hard thinking, I finally chose Lee Jin Hyuk’s fan meeting in Manila as my top 3 fan meeting this 2019. I liked Jinhyuk ever since Produce X 101 that’s why I really felt devastated when he wasn’t part of the final line-up. But seeing him actively promoting as a solo artist makes me happy for him. Lee Jinhyuk’s fan meeting in Manila happened last December 14, 2019 at the New Frontier Theater.

What made Lee Jinhyuk’s fan meeting win over the other two is because of Lee Jinhyuk himself. He is probably one of the kindest idol I have ever met. Although he is not that good is speaking English, he still tried his best to talk with the fans. He is “game” with all the things on stage. Especially when he was playing the bigger version of Tumbang Preso. You can also see that he is enjoying all these stuffs.

I have seen and met a lot of idols but Lee Jinhyuk will always have a special place in my heart. Kind idols like him are worth stanning.

#2 Jang Ki Yong in Manila

During Jang Ki Yong’s fan meeting in Manila, I haven’t started watching Search: WWW (in fact I actually dropped that drama just recently). I know him but I haven’t watched his drama. Since I was asked to cover the said event, I went to his fan meeting.

With a cold looking face, I really did not expect him to be that fun to watch. He likes to smile and play with the fans. I was laughing so hard all throughout his fan meeting. Look, I am not a fan, what more if I am right? His fan meeting was just a small fan meeting which made it more intimate too.
Plus, the good thing here is that he played with his fans. It’s not just a host-actor moment but also a fan-actor moment. That is the kind of fan meeting I am looking for. Jang Ki Yong’s fan meeting in Manila happened at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura last November 17, 2019.

#1 Park Bo Gum in Manila

A lot of people will surely get mad at me if they know that I haven’t watched a single drama of Park Bo Gum. But yes, I haven’t but I’m planning to watch one soon. Park Bo Gum’s fan meeting in Manila was actually moved because of the recent earthquakes that happened in the Philippines. His fan meeting was supposed to be on the same date as Stray Kids in Manila. Park Bo Gum in Manila was held at the Mall of Asia Arena last June 22, 2019.

I don’t know if I should categorize this as a fan meet or a concert because I felt like I experienced both in this fan meeting. The first half was definitely a fan meet while the second half was a concert. The fun thing here in this fan meeting is that, Park Bo Gum tried his very best to speak in straight English which made us understand what he is saying. Another thing, Anne Curtis was the host. Since she is also a fangirl, we can definitely feel what Anne is feeling. Anne is really a great host.

For the second part of his fan meeting, most of the songs that Park Bo Gum performed were JYP songs. As a JYP stan, I had a great moment singing with those songs. Park Bo Gum can definitely pass as an idol singer.

But the most fun part in this fan meeting is that, all the fans at the Mall of Asia Arena will get to hi touch him. Imagine how tiring it could be but Park Bo Gum did not even show a single sign of tiredness. In fact, he was even more hyper during the hitouch. Oh and yes, he looks really handsome up-close.

If you have noticed, almost all the events that I chose were either intimate, or the artist is very kind. That is the kind of event that makes me happy. I hope I’ll still get to experience more events on the following years.

How about you? What’s your best event this 2019?