Han Hyo-joo reaches out to meet Filipino fans in Korea

South Korean actress Han Hyo-joo personally reached out to her longtime Filipino fans and invited them to a meet-up while they were visiting South Korea.

Members of Han Hyo Joo Philippines traveled to Korea hoping to see their longtime idol, but with Hyo-joo busy filming “Your Ground,” they knew there was a chance they might not get to meet her.

“Who would have thought that the one and only Han Hyo Joo would personally invite us just so she could see us and thank us in person?” the fan club shared in a recent post.

The fans were hoping to see Hyo-joo while she was filming. About a week before their flight, there was a chance to meet her, but the scene being filmed that day was not open to visitors. They decided not to get their hopes up and continued with their Korea itinerary.

One of their stops was Yongin, a filming location of “Dong Yi.”  It was a drama which has a special place in their hearts. Hyo-joo starred as the drama's lead.

After their trip to Yongin, the group stopped briefly at Banpo Bridge where one of the fans posted an Instagram Story about the “silly thing” they had done after seeing Hyo-joo's Dong Yi standee.

The group was then on their way to Myeongdong for samgyeopsal when one of the fans received an unexpected message from Hyo-joo just as they were about to get on the bus.

The “Happiness” actress asked if they were in Korea, welcomed them, and told them she was filming “Your Ground.”

“I always wanted to meet you guys and say thank you,” Hyo-joo wrote in a message shared by the fan club.

“If you guys have a little time tomorrow afternoon. Like 1pm then shall we meet just 30mins before I go to the shooting place.”

“And that was the moment everything changed,” the fans recalled.

The group said they were stunned  as they had already accepted the possibility  of them not seeing the actress during their trip.

“That moment we didn't know what to do and what to reply to her. Like...How were we supposed to calm down!?”

They added, “Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that Hyo Joo herself would be the one to invite us to meet her—just so she could see us and personally say thank you.”

Hyo-joo's managers, JongHun and JinYoung, also helped make the meeting possible. According to the fan club, one of the managers showed up near a local convenience store and guided them to the impromptu gathering.

“A very special thanks to Hyo Joo’s managers, Manager JongHun and Manager JinYoung for allowing her to meet us in person,” the fans wrote. “We’re truly grateful for making this precious moment possible.”

During the meeting, Hyo-joo spoke with the fans and thanked them for their longtime support. In a video posted by the fan club, she acknowledged their support over the past 12 years.

The fan club's connection with the actress goes beyond her acting career. According to the group, Hyo-joo has been supporting charity efforts in the Philippines since 2007.

Hyo-joo asked where they planned to go next. The fans said their minds went blank and they could only think of the Han River, so they ended up asking her to recommend places they could visit instead.

The actress gave them suggestions, including places to eat, which the fans quickly added to their plans.

“Our original itinerary basically became useless. Forget the itinerary—HyoJoo's recommendations became the new itinerary! Hahaha!” they quipped.

They also followed her restaurant recommendations, even joking that they spent almost all their remaining money on their final day in Korea.

“But no regrets at all! If Hanhyojoo recommends it, then we have to try it!”

The fans also shared photos from the meeting, including pictures with Hyo-joo, the flowers and lengthy note they gave her, a personalized tumbler, and other gifts from her Filipino supporters.

Although the meeting came together at the last minute, the fan club described it as an emotional and unforgettable experience after more than a decade of supporting the actress.

“Thank you, Hyo Joo, and thank you to her managers for giving us a memory that we will treasure for the rest of our lives,” they wrote.

The Filipino fan community was also among several international groups recently showing their support for Hyo-joo. Fans from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines surprised the actress with a coffee truck to celebrate her recent project. The support included complimentary drinks, snack boxes, sandwiches, and fruit.

The fan club ended by expressing their continued support for the actress:

“We will love you and we will support you always and forever Hyo.”

“DON'T WORRY, WE ARE YOUR FANS and nothing to worry because YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OUR BEST ACTRESS. We love love love you so much HANHYOJOO!!”