A Fanmeeting I Never Thought I'd Attend  

As a K-drama fan, I never imagined I’d find myself at a fanmeeting for Na In Woo. My journey to this unforgettable experience was completely unplanned and it turned out to be one of the highlights of my year!  

I first discovered Na In Woo through 2 Days & 1 Night. Later, I watched him in Jinxed at First, The Golden Spoon, and most recently, Marry My Husband. I love watching K-drama actors on screen, but I don’t usually keep up with their offline activities. So, I had no idea Na In Woo was hosting a fanmeeting.  

But on my birthday, while hanging out with friends at a café, one of them was casually browsing Interpark. She stumbled across the event listing for Na In Woo’s fanmeeting and noticed that there were still tickets available. Since we had just received our allowances, we spontaneously decided to book tickets right then and there!

Memorable Experiences during the Fanmeeting

The day of the fanmeeting arrived, and we showed up in the late afternoon. After picking up our tickets, we lined up to take photos at the photobooth before entering the cozy venue.  

The small size of the venue made the fanmeeting feel incredibly intimate. It was clear from the start that this was going to be a special experience.

Talented Na In Woo

During the fanmeeting, Na In Woo showcased his many talents—dancing, playing the guitar, singing, and interacting with fans. It was amazing to see how much effort he put into connecting with everyone.  

He may not be the most skilled dancer, but he gave it his all, which made the performance even more endearing. His sincerity and charm shone through in every moment, and it was heartwarming to watch.

Embarrassing Moment

There was one moment, however, that left me feeling a bit embarrassed.  

The host asked the audience who had come from the farthest place. Since the question was in Korean, many foreign fans didn’t understand it right away. My friend and I, who understood the question, shouted out the names of our countries—loud enough for everyone in the small venue to hear.  

But then the host clarified, saying, “No, in Korea first,” which hadn’t been specified earlier. This made me feel awkward for shouting my country when the focus was supposed to be on locations within Korea.  

On a side note, I felt the host occasionally took too much of the spotlight from Na In Woo, especially during the first part of the fanmeeting. That’s just my personal opinion, though!

Hi-Touch

One of the best surprises of the evening was the hi-touch session! I only found out about it while reviewing the event details on the way to the venue.  

During the hi-touch, I stood in front of Na In Woo, who bent down slightly because of his height. I told him, “Please come to the Philippines,” and he responded with a smile, repeating, “Oh, Philippines. Philippines.”  

Although fans were allowed to take photos and videos during the hi-touch, I wanted to make the moment more personal by interacting with him using both hands. It was such a surreal experience!

Mini Vlog:

Overall, the fanmeeting was an incredible experience. From Na In Woo’s heartfelt performances to the unexpected hi-touch, every moment felt special.  

I’m so grateful I decided to attend and hope to see him in more big projects soon. I hope he visits the Philippines so that my friends who are his fans can all see him live.

@annyeongruth I attended Na In Woo’s fan meeting in South Korea and even got a hi-touch from him 🥹 This is a late upload but still worth the memory. #kdrama #nainwoo #나인우 #nainwoofanmeet ♬ 蜜桃物语 - 仁辰 & 于行

From Tears to Cheers: Why Caratland 2024 is special for me

After becoming a Carat during the pandemic, attending Caratland live in South Korea has always been a dream come true for me. In 2022, SEVENTEEN finally held Caratland live again. However, I wasn’t able to fly to South Korea at the time, so I had to settle for watching it online. I promised myself that the following year, I would attend Caratland no matter what.  

Fast forward to Caratland 2023, I was thrilled to secure a ticket with my desired date and seat. Everything seemed to be going perfectly. But life had other plans. I had to cancel my ticket and couldn’t attend Caratland 2023. I was so heartbroken that I took a hiatus from everything, including my job, for weeks and even months. That period of time was incredibly difficult for me, and I fell into depression.  

Now that I’ve moved to South Korea to pursue my Master’s degree, I was determined to watch Caratland 2024 live no matter what. When the event was announced, I was crushed to find out it was scheduled for weekdays, I had classes! I cried so much because I didn’t know how to balance both commitments. Still, I tried to secure tickets, and to my surprise, I managed to get tickets for two days. It was one of the most challenging ticketing experiences I’ve had here in South Korea. I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it, but I did - even if it was on the fourth floor!  

Determined to attend despite my classes, I made a plan: I would only miss one day. I traveled back to Busan to attend class and then returned to Caratland. It was exhausting and stressful, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. The experience was worth every bit of effort.

Memorable Moments at Caratland  

Pulled Wonwoo, my bias, for the Caratzone Photocard

Among all the photocards I could have received, getting Wonwoo’s Caratzone photocard was the most exciting moment for me. If you know me, I rarely like Wonwoo’s photocards, but when I do, I really want to have them.  

For those unfamiliar with Caratzone photocards, they’re random photocards given to ticket holders with SEVENTEEN membership. To get one, you simply show your ticket, identification card, and membership card (digital versions are also accepted) at their booth.  

On Day 1, I got Seungkwan’s photocard! I was so happy to pull him and decided not to trade it. On Day 2, I claimed my Caratzone photocard last minute because I was coming from Busan. I wasn’t expecting to get Wonwoo since he rarely shows up in my pulls. But when I saw his card, I was completely shocked and overjoyed. It saved me from having to buy it, which would’ve cost more than my fanmeet ticket!  

Unit Reversal: A Unique Caratland Tradition

One of the biggest highlights of Caratland is the unit reversal performances. Why? Because it’s a rare chance to see SEVENTEEN units performing songs by other units - a treat you won’t see at concerts!  

This year, they performed their latest unit songs: Cheers to Youth, Lalali, and Spell.  

- The Hiphop Unit (Wonwoo, S.Coups, Mingyu, Vernon) performed the Performance Unit’s Spell.  

- The Vocal Unit (Joshua, Jeonghan, DK, Seungkwan, Woozi) performed the Hiphop Unit’s Lalali.  

- The Performance Unit (Jun, Hoshi, The8, Dino) performed the Vocal Unit’s Cheers to Youth.  

Songs That Don’t Suit SEVENTEEN

Another hilarious highlight of Caratland is watching SEVENTEEN perform songs that don’t “suit” them—but they somehow make them work! Imagine Wonwoo performing (G)I-DLE’s Queencard or Joshua performing Stray Kids’ God’s Menu!  

And DK’s (fake) abs during Taemin’s Guilty? I couldn’t stop laughing! Seeing Mingyu’s performance of Kiss of Life’s Sticky was another unforgettable moment—he truly owned the stage.  

Hearing Shining Diamond Live

As someone who didn’t become a Carat from the start, I missed out on SEVENTEEN’s early memories. Hearing Shining Diamond live, a song that represents their trainee days and debut, made me feel like I was part of their journey from the very beginning. I cried so much during this performance. It’s true—once you slip into the Diamond Life, there’s no turning back. Even as I write this blog, I can still feel the overwhelming emotions I experienced.  

The Last OT13 Caratland - for a While

One of the main reasons I pushed myself to attend Caratland 2024 was because it would likely be the last OT13 Caratland for a while. With SEVENTEEN members starting their military enlistment soon, it will be a few years before they’re all together again. Seeing them perform as a complete group was incredibly special, and I’ll treasure that memory until the day they reunite.

Treasuring the Diamond Life  

Caratland 2024 might not completely erase the pain of missing Caratland 2023, but it’s a cherished experience that I’ll always hold dear. Thank you, SEVENTEEN, for making Caratland so meaningful. Maybe next year, I’ll get to attend again? Until then, I’ll continue to live the Diamond Life.

The Lovely Runner fever is not yet over

Inclusions of Lovely Runner OST Album

Outbox

Digipack, 2 CD, Photobook

Eclipse Mini Album, CD, Photobook

Photocards & Photo Frame

Hang Tag

Bookmark, Film Photo, and Special Ticket

Photostand

Message Postcard

Sticker

Puzzle Magnet

Poster

@annyeongruth UNBOXING || Lovely Runner OST album! Finally it has arrived after being delayed 😅 The album was really worth it! I miss my Lovely Runner babies 🥹 #kdrama #lovelyrunner #선재업고튀어 #byeonwooseok #kimhyeyoon ♬ Star - N.Flying

Have you seen This Man?

This Man Album Inclusions

Weverse POB - Photocard and Coaster

Sleevebox

Photobook

CD-R with CD Envelope

Lyric Paper

Sticker

Unit Folded Poster

Individual Folded Poster

Photocard

Unboxing:

@annyeongruth UNBOXING || Jeonghan x Wonwoo This Man Album I preordered this from Weverse that’s why I got that Wonwoo POB. 🥰 This is late upload 😅 #kpop #seventeen #jeonghanxwonwoo #jeonghan #wonwoo #thisman ♬ Last night (Guitar by Park Juwon) - JxW