[SINGAPORE] Hwang In Youp’s successful first stop marks a great start to his Asia tour

With back-to-back hit dramas such as True Beauty and The Sound of Music, Hwang In Youp is one of the most sought-after South Korean actors at the moment. No longer on the small screen, Singapore fans had the chance to meet In Youp for the first time at the Capitol Theatre on July 30. The first stop of his Asia tour entitled 2022 HWANG IN YOUP 1st Fan Meeting marked the long-awaited return of fanmeetings in Singapore after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Let’s take a look back at the night with the dreamy Korean actor!

 

Not just a pretty face

What better way to start the evening than with In Youp’s beautiful voice?

In Youp opened the night with the song It Starts Today from the soundtrack of True Beauty. HIYILYs (Hwang In Youp’s fandom name) and avid viewers of The Sound of Music were already privy to In Youp’s great singing skills, but it was even more delightful to hear in person, and fans squealed with delight as In Youp dedicated the song to the audience.

A hidden Singapore expert 

After his sweet serenade, In Youp took a test on how well he knew Singapore culture and food. With a little help from fans, he achieved a full score on questions such as the ban on chewing gum, and the national languages. He revealed that he had seen the Merlion while walking along the Singapore River, and had enjoyed Chilli Crab.

Game for anything, In Youp tried Kaya Toast and Teh Tarik onstage and declared that it was “shiok”! In return, Singapore fans did not hold back on their warm welcome towards the charming actor. It’s no wonder the actor expressed his excitement toward the possibility of returning to the city state, before even leaving. 

Getting up-close and personal 

It was time for lucky fans to hear from the actor himself! In Youp spent some time answering questions that fans posed to him through sticky notes, and revealed some behind-the-scenes episodes of his previous dramas. Notably, In Youp spoke about how lucky he was to receive so much love for his role as Han Seo Jun in True Beauty, which was obviously beloved by local fans. 

Upon HIYILYs fervent request, In Youp also cutely danced to Zico’s Okey Dokey –– which was also performed by Seo Jun in the drama –– and drew laughs and coos from the crowd. He then invited the audience to stand up and started an Okey Dokey dance party, which fans loved. 

A few lucky fans also got to play games with In Youp, such as a staring contest, traditional Korean game ddakji –– popularised by Netflix drama Squid Game –– and a hand pushing game. His considerate side shone during the game segments, as In Youp tried to play at fans’ level despite his experience and skills at the games. 

Despite Singapore being the first stop of his first ever fanmeeting, In Youp looked absolutely at ease and experienced. Unlike his introverted first impression, the actor did not hesitate to get close with fans, hugging and shaking hands with them. 

He even took a trip off-stage to walk around the first floor to greet them, which emcee Matthew revealed was a spontaneous act he initiated himself. His love for HIYILYs was boundless –– from aegyo (or cute acts) to dancing and giving away personalised prizes, In Youp looked really excited to meet Singaporean fans.

Time to say goodnight

In Youp ended the night with another song, but not before delivering his feelings and thanks to Singapore fans for the warm welcome and his wishes to return soon. 

He closed the fanmeeting with the fan-favourite hit I Mean It from The Sound of Music, gazing lovingly at the crowd. Immersed in the music, the sudden explosion of the confetti machines surprised him, which made the audience laugh.  

From heart-fluttering moments to humorous dance times, In Youp definitely made it a night to remember. If you missed the Singapore stop of Hwang In Youp’s fanmeeting, make sure to catch up at one of the other six stops in Asia! 

Thank you IMC Live Global for the media invite!

Written by: Nicole Descalsota
Photos by: IMC Live Global

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