‘Xohee Loved Ones’: Why Han So-hee’s Manila fan meet is one to remember

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MANILA, Philippines – In kindergarten, my love for Korean dramas started when I used my tita’s (aunt) laptop with the flash drive that contained all 25 episodes of Lee Min-ho’s Boys Over Flowers that she copied from her college classmate in 2009. I thought it was just a phase, or something I did to bond with my tita, but now that I’m in college, my love for K-dramas hasn’t gone away. 

Especially during the pandemic, K-drama was my only resort for boredom. It’s when I met Han So-hee when she made my blood boil with her role as Yeo Da-kyung in The World of the Married (2020). Her talent was convincing, which made me watch and fall in love with her as Yu Na-bi in Nevertheless (2021) and shipped her pairing with Song Kang. 

While I had gotten used to admiring So-hee’s innocent-looking face in her previous works, she amazed me with her martial arts skills as Yoon Ji-woo in My Name (2021). Her recent K-drama series on Netflix, where she played as Yoon Chae-ok in Gyeongseong Creature (2023-2024), was also a revelation of versatility as an actress and proof of why she is well-loved and supported by many. 

Like any other fan, my ultimate dream is to personally meet my K-drama favorites, even just from afar. Then came So-hee’s fan meet, held on September 13 at Cove Manila in Okada, Parañaque City.

Although she’s been in the country before for shootings and vacation, this is her first official visit to meet her Filipino fans. 

A view of the ‘Xohee Loved Ones, You are sparkling treasures to me’ stage at Cove Manila. All photos by Alessandria Corral/Rappler

Close to showtime, the lights dimmed and a trailer showing her name flashed on the screen, prompting the venue to erupt with cheers. And a few moments later, Han So-hee appeared, standing gracefully under the spotlight in a white dress. 

“First and foremost, of course I am very, very honored and blessed to have this come to life. And secondly, of course, coming here to see the fans face to face. I’m very very happy,” said the Korean actress. 

The fan meet was truly So-hee’s. You could see traces of her everywhere you looked — from the violet sea of posters to the artworks and lightsticks fans brought to cheer her on. 

Every last detail was all hers, including the name of the event, which she thought of herself: “Xohee Loved Ones, You are sparkling treasures to me.” 

“Of course it’s like a returned gift to my fans who give me unconditional and endless love, so for me, fans are really treasures in my life, that’s why I came up with this title,” she said. 

Fans wave banners, lightsticks, flowers, and posters for So-hee.

At one point, she asked us to raise our banners so she could keep the sight of all her Filipino fans in her mind — a core memory, if you will. “I can see the banners and the slogans that you’re raising up. The banners as well, it’s very heartwarming. Please put it up for me,” the K-drama star requested, assuring fans that she could see each of them from where she was. 

The banner reads, “Sohee, our constant in every season.”

A peak fan girl moment: I joined the others and lifted my banner as high as I could, hoping she would notice it. And around me, I saw so many arms raised and in that moment, I realized that the whole crowd was united for one same reason: love for Han So-hee. 

The whole fan meet experience was packed with fun activities that allowed her to bond with fans more closely, removing the barrier that likely had many of her fans thinking that they’d only get to see her in their favorite series.

Hosted by Karen Bordador, one of the games played was “Xohee’s Awards,” where we guessed So-hee’s preferences from a set of choices. At one point, the question was, “Which character would So-hee like to try playing?” The options included a psychopath, a doctor, a spy, or a producer. 

A bit shocked by her fans’ preference, the role of a psychopath, So-hee gamely gave in and wowed the crowd with her acting skills when she channeled her inner psychopath — probably the prettiest psychopath I’ve seen in the K-drama world! 

In an instant, it was like a lights, camera, action moment when she briefly covered her face, and upon removing it, it transformed the fan meet into what felt like a scene straight out of K-drama that I usually see on my screen.

All it took was her psycho stare and sudden change in aura. In that quick moment, it felt like having a sneak peek of the kind of role she could flawlessly take on in the future. 

While the crowd is used to watching her act, she stepped out of her comfort zone and charmed everyone with a dance performance featuring “Seoul City” by JENNIE and “Whiplash” by aespa. 

But it wasn’t just Han So-hee who shined that remarkable night. It was a fan meet, after all.

It was her Filipino fans’ turn to showcase their creativity. They presented a compilation of artworks dedicated to her,  depicting  the different roles she’s played to her candid moments offscreen. She then re-created poses from selected fan arts, which melted the hearts of her supporters and the artists behind the work. 

K-drama star Han So Hee takes a look at her fans’ artworks.

So-hee’s relationship with her fans shone through, making the event feel less like a show, and more like a gathering with her “Xohee Loved Ones.” 

From the artwork showcase, So-hee moved on to play with nine lucky fans in a chaotic drawing game. The players were divided into three groups composed of three fans and So-hee. In each round, three members had to draw simultaneously, while the remaining member guessed what the drawings were supposed to be. 

Han So-hee plays with fans during the ‘Drawing Game with Xohee’ segment.

Given the limited time, the sketches often ended up rushed and somehow abstract because of how barely recognizable they were. That’s when So-hee stepped in, helping her team by improving the drawings and making them easier to guess with her art skills. The group with the highest number of correct guesses took home the win. 

Fun and laughter filled the venue with how the activity escalated, showing just how much of a team-player she can be, especially under time pressure. 

But perhaps the most rewarding outcome wasn’t the prizes that came after the game, but the group hug the fans shared with their idol. 

The genuine connection she has with her fans was definitely the highlight of the event. It was a “sana all” moment for the rest of us when she unexpectedly stepped down from the stage to embrace another lucky supporter after reading their message.

As a token of gratitude to her supporters, So-hee prepared a special video she personally funded the production of. It was an abstract short film that served as a visual representation of her deepest emotions. 

The video began with So-hee alone in different settings: waking up in a bed, running through a tunnel beside a busy street filled with cars, and moving as if she were drowning yet not entirely submerged. 

Capture from the video made by Han So-hee, shown at the ‘Xohee Loved Ones’ stage, featuring the actress holding a violet flower.

Then she discovered a violet flower placed inside a transparent box. She reached out to get the flower and lingered on it, as if quietly embracing the moment. In another striking scene, she leaned restlessly against a mannequin, as if she was seeking comfort from it. 

Capture from Han So-hee’s video with the line “Found,” reflecting her connection with fans.

Throughout the video, some phrases appeared on screen: “The fact that you’ve always been by my side,” “always in the same place,” “I’ll find it,” and finally, “Found.” These words seemed to recognize the constant presence of her fans who have stood by her throughout her career. 

She said, “I want to let you guys know how I think about my fans and the journey,” and hearing those words felt like a direct message to all of the people in the venue. 

She explained the story behind two symbols in the video: the violet flower and the mannequin. “The first one is the violet flower. It has a message that I wanna express to the fans — how much I love, how I think, how I feel towards the fans,” explained So-hee. 

In a video capture, So-hee leans on a mannequin as the phrase “The fact that you’ve always been by my side” appears on screen.

“And the second one is the mannequin that you can see in the middle of the movie. You are there but when I’m alone, you’re not there. So that is the symbol that I want to portray in the movie through a mannequin,” she added. 

The video wasn’t just a product of her creative ideas. It was also her way of opening up to her fans and being vulnerable with us. 

To top it all off, she also revealed that she will be starring in the Korean remake of the film The Intern, where she will be taking on Anne Hathaway’s role as the busy CEO of a fashion company. 

So-hee even grew teary-eyed during the stage photo when she was surprised with a tribute video featuring her photos and messages from fans that was played on screen. 

Fans, myself included, felt emotional during this touching moment and continued to cheer for the actress throughout the video. 

Seeing fans’ gifts for So-hee — along with the actress’ own surprises for her supporters — turned her first-ever fan meeting into a remarkable night. – Rappler.com

Alessandria Corral is a Rappler volunteer and a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman.