K-pop artists coming to town

With travel and crowd restrictions further easing up, a Korean wave is set to hit the Philippines as our favorite K-pop acts are finally reuniting with their Pinoy fans.

After two years without a live concert or show in sight, South Korea’s biggest artists have confirmed their concerts and performanes in Manila.

Here’s the who and when details of the events you wouldn’t want to miss.

On May 29, the country’s first K-pop live concert — Begin Again: KPOP Edition — will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Headlining the historic event is Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung of chart-topper boy group NCT Dream.

Red Velvet

The group was one of the last K-pop acts to hold a live concert in the Philippines just before the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.

Alongside NCT Dream for the awaited concert is their labelmate, Key, the lead dancer and rapper of SHINee; and WEi, a six-member boy group from OUI Entertainment.

Girl group ALICE, consisting of members EJ, DO-A, Chaejeong, Yeonjae, Yukyung, Soheen and Karin will also join the two hours of K-pop galore.

Tickets are available via https://www.ticketnet.com.ph and all Ticketnet outlets nationwide.

There’s more to come this July! On the 22nd, SM Entertainment’s girl group Red Velvet is sharing the stage with our very own P-pop groups for a benefit show at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.

The In Purpose International Training Institute Inc.’s (IPITI) benefit show titled Be You: The World Will Adjust, which has been described as an “extraordinary celebration for people with special needs” will also feature local acts such as the girls of BINI and the guys of BGYO.

Red Velvet’s upcoming performance is an awaited reunion with their Pinoy Reveluvs, three years after they last dominated the stage at the K-pop World Music Festival (KWMF) in Manila.

Meanwhile, besides K-pop artists, K-drama stars are heading their way here as well.

One of the top-earning Korean actors, Kim Soo-hyun of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and My Love from the Star fame, will be meeting Filipino fans next month. The K-drama star is set to hold his One Extraordinary Day with Kim Soo-hyun event on June 10 at the MOA Arena as part of his endorsement deal with Bench.

True Beauty and The Sound of Magic star Hwang In Youp, on the other hand, will hold his first fan meet event in the Philippines on June 19 at the New Frontier Theater.

In Youp initially pursued modeling before making his acting debut with the lead role in the web drama, W.H.Y. He continues to rise with his latest series, The Sound of Magic, streaming on Netflix and an upcoming role in Why Her?, a series premiering next month.

Last September 2021, BYS Philippines signed on the actor as its endorser for its #UncoverTrueBeauty campaign. For ticket details, log on to TicketNet.com.ph.

Other K-drama stars like the newly-married Crash Landing On You (CLOY) stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin were tapped as endorsers for local brands over the pandemic but no word yet if they will still have physical fan meets in the country.