[PHILIPPINES] Han Seung Woo Dives Into HAN_As’ Love at His First Solo Concert in Manila

South Korean singer-songwriter Han Seung Woo finally met his Filipino HAN_As for the first time at his Special Live ‘ONE’ in Manila last August 20, 2023 at the SM North EDSA Skydome.

Apart from being a K-Pop soloist, Seung Woo also serves as a lead vocalist and rapper of boy group VICTON and was a former member of project group X1. He recently released his third mini-album Frame on June 27.

The Manila leg of his Special Live ‘ONE’ marks the end of his 2023 Asia Tour. The tour started in South Korea last July and subsequently extended to Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, and Hong Kong, before finally concluding in the Philippines.

Seung Woo kicked off the concert in high gear with back-to-back performances of Intro and Dive Into, both from his newly released EP, Frame. After warmly greeting the HAN_As in attendance, he showcased his Tagalog skills with phrases like “Kamusta kayo? (How are you guys?)” and “Maganda kayo! (You’re all beautiful!)”

The soloist also mentioned that his tour was initially set to finish a week earlier in Hong Kong, but he wanted to fulfil his Filipino fans’ wish of having a concert in the country. He then made a mellow turn in his setlist with soulful tracks Flutter and Child.

Seung Woo said that it was his first time meeting Filipino HAN_As and that as it was the final stop of his tour, he hoped for it to be the most unforgettable one. The party continued with everyone enthusiastically jamming to Reply from Seung Woo’s debut mini-album, Fame.

As Seung Woo left the stage for a short intermission, a hilarious VCR depicting an interview with three versions of Han Seung Woo at different ages (27, 28, and 29). When asked about his happiest career moment, 27-year-old Seung Woo eagerly responded, “My debut! [I chose it] because it’s the debut I’ve always dreamed of.”

The 29-year-old Seung Woo also shared some insightful advice with his younger self regarding military service: “Think of it as a performance and enjoy it until the end. If there’s sadness, there will also be happiness.”

Returning to the stage dressed in all black, Seung Woo delivered a high-octane performance of Sacrifice. Afterwards, he remarked, “Sacrifice is my debut solo song. It was my first solo song after four years [since] debuting. It feels like it was just yesterday when I released my first solo album, but a lot of time has passed. Speaking of albums, I want to release one again very soon.”

Seung Woo then encouraged the audience to get up on their feet for Runnin’ High. Filipino HAN_As’ excitement definitely went through the roof during this segment as Seung Woo took off his jacket during the song, revealing his fit physique in a black tank top.

The soloist then proceeded to perform R&B track I Just Want Love and pop rock anthem Lovelorn, further demonstrating his impressive versatility as an artist.

In between performances, Seung Woo engaged in casual conversations with his fans. He shared that touring doesn’t feel like work to him, stating, “Touring is like a vacation for me because it makes me very happy.” He added that after the tour, he plans to prepare for his new album and then take a real vacation soon.

With a fond gaze towards his fans, Seung Woo expressed, “I came here to reciprocate the energy you’ve given me, but I feel like I’ve been able to give even more because of you all. I’ll make sure to treasure these memories.” He then playfully asked, “Mahal niyo ba ‘ko? (Do you love me?)” and “Gwapo ba ako? (Am I handsome?)”, receiving resounding yeses from the fans in response.

For his encore performance, Seung Woo captivated the audience with Burn and another rendition of Runnin’ High. It was during this time that Filipino HAN_As started their special fan projects, displaying handkerchiefs printed with Seung Woo’s name while singing their hearts out.

The fans also arranged a touching video montage as a gift for Seung Woo, featuring messages such as “Seung Woo completes HAN_A just as much as HAN_A completes Seung Woo”, “We are praying for your health, rooting for your success, and most of all, hoping for your happiness”, and “We are very proud of how far you’ve come”.

Seung Woo expressed his deep appreciation to the fans who have stood by him since his debut seven years ago:

“After I got discharged [from the military], I got to perform and I had a lot of thoughts. I noticed that a lot of things happened; there were sad times and happy times, [as well as] some things that would have made the old Seung Woo sad. But I’m strong now. I’ll do my best and fight on. Being together [with you guys] is so meaningful [to me]. I think right now, the people I have to value the most are you guys. I love, value, and cherish you. Just as you cheer for me, I will also cheer for you.”

Han Seung Woo

After a photo session with the fans, Seung Woo said, “Being able to meet you guys made me so happy. Salamat po. Mahal ko kayo. Kita po tayo ulit! (Thank you. I love you all. Let’s see each other again!)”

Seung Woo and his beloved HAN_As sang We Loved Each Other together as a heartfelt conclusion to the concert.

The Seoul Story would like to thank Make It Live Asia for inviting us to the show! We hope to see Han Seung Woo in Manila again soon. 🙂

Check out more photos from the concert here.

Written by : Sai
Photos by : Sai

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