_{Photos courtesy of Wilbros Live}

It took nearly 20 years, but it was worth every second. On August 2, 2025, Filipino fans of Ju Ji Hoon finally got their long-awaited moment… his first-ever fan meeting in the Philippines! Held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, the 2025 Juniverse Fan Meeting in Manila was nothing short of magical and in true Ju Ji Hoon fashion, he didn’t just show up, he showed out.

In our opinion, this was a fan meet like no other. From the very beginning, Ju Ji Hoon made sure to connect with his fans in the most personal way possible. He mingled with the audience, went around the venue to greet and high-five fans, and gave plenty of selfies and hugs onstage—turning the night into (almost) a selfie party. The amount of fan service the 2025 Blue Dragon Series Awards Best Actor gave was top-notch and exceeded everyone’s expectations. (Kudos to the staff as well for being game and very accommodating throughout the Manila fan meet!)

The show kicked off with a sentimental serenade from the “Crown Prince” himself, singing Lee Juck’s “Relieved”. This was followed by the first segment of the show titled Jutube. In Jutube, categories like MukJihoon, TagalJihoon, and ChillJihoon gave fans a deeper look into his fun, cheeky side. Some of the things he talked about was his love for cooking, his current diet which made him look more strong and lean (he’s preparing for his upcoming dramas) and the pros and cons of his towering height. Of course, we also witnessed how sincere and affectionate he is with his fans. During ChillJihoon, he even recreated iconic Zootopia selcas with a lucky fan, perfectly mimicking Nick and Judy’s famous poses and even repeating the polaroid shots that didn’t get the proper shot, It was definitely one of the most unforgettable and heart-melting moments during the fan meet.

Next up is Juniverse Awards, a portion that brought us more surprises. Though fans voted rom-coms as their favorite genre for him, Ju Ji Hoon revealed his dream of starring in a black comedy. He also humorously compared his towering height to a lucky 5-foot fan that was called onstage. He also re-enacted a line from his latest drama Trauma Code: Heroes on Call with a teasingly stern “Shut up.” As host Sam Oh rightly pointed out, even when he’s being stern, fans can’t help but feel kilig.

Next came Thinkverse, where a board of sticky notes filled with fan messages awaited him. The twist? For every note he picked, the fan who wrote it was invited on stage for a rare moment and selca with the Kingdom star. These spontaneous, heartfelt interactions highlighted just how sincere and affectionate Ju Ji Hoon is with his fans.

And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, here comes the second segment of the fan meet. The ever-famous Princess Hours track “Perhaps Love” started playing. Cue the nostalgia! My teenage-self was internally crying. As the music filled the room, Ju Ji Hoon went around the venue, giving fans up-close moments they’ll never forget. As JJH made his way back to the stage, we saw that some fans were still shaking, smiling from ear-to-ear, and even crying from their favorite actor’s unexpected close-up encounter with them.

Next stop, Jutopia, the games segment. Three teams consisting of three fans each played fun relay games with Ju Ji Hoon — including Pirate Roulette, One Mind One Body, and Three-Legged Race. Winners really felt like winners but those who lost the game… they felt like winners too! Ju Ji Hoon treated everyone as champions and had the opportunity to take a selca with him too. The next game, an X-and-O trivia challenge, brought the whole audience into the action. This game determined who knows Ju Ji Hoon best and one of the surprise winners? A five-year-old kid! Proof that Ju Ji Hoon’s charm transcends generations.

Of course, a fan meeting will not be complete without fan-made videos to be watched towards the end of the show as well as the signature photo time with the artist and fans. To officially cap off the night, the Love Your Enemy star sang Hong Kwang-ho’s song “Pretty”, a perfect way to end the highly anticipated Juniverse in Manila.

Ju Ji Hoon’s interactions were playful, warm, and up close—proving that his charm extends far beyond the screen. For his Filipino fans, the long wait was absolutely worth it, making this night both meaningful and unforgettable. Here’s to hoping this versatile actor returns to the Philippines soon, so even more fans can experience his striking visuals, irresistible charisma, and genuine personality in person. And while we wait, don’t worry—he’s currently working on two exciting projects, including Remarried Empress on Disney+, where he stars alongside Shin Min-ah and Lee Jong-suk.

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Special thanks to Wilbros Live and Ms. Grace Foronda for creating special moments for artists and fans~