Inside Hwang In-youp’s ‘To You’ Manila Fan Meeting: The Moments Filipino Fans Won’t Forget
A return to Manila brought Hwang In-youp back to a place filled with years of memories. At “To You,” he made new ones alongside the Filipino fans who have continued to welcome him through the years.
Hwang In-youp is no stranger to the Philippines. Since his first visit in June 2022 for a BYS-sponsored Fun Meet, the Korean actor has returned to the Philippines three more times, including his first official Manila fan meeting just two months later. He was back in January 2025 for “In Love” and, on October 31, 2026, reunited with his Filipino supporters for his latest fan meeting, “To You.”
Halloween may have been the occasion for costume parties and celebrations across the country, but for HIYILYs, the evening was all about Hwang In-youp. Fans gathered at the New Frontier Theater for the much-anticipated fan meeting, presented by L-Squared Productions, eager to see the actor once again. The excitement inside the venue was palpable. While Hwang In-youp was already familiar with the Philippines and its reputation for “Filipino time,” that certainly wasn’t the case that evening. His fans were right on time and ready for the reunion they had been looking forward to.
One of the night’s early highlights came when Hwang In-youp shared details about his upcoming fantasy drama, Human X Gumiho, which will mark his first-ever villain role alongside Ji Chang-wook and Jun Ji-hyun. The mention of Ji Chang-wook immediately drew louder cheers from the audience, a reaction Hwang In-youp was quick to notice. He playfully asked why, prompting the host to ask if he gets jealous. The actor admitted that he can be the jealous type while also sharing his admiration for Ji Chang-wook, whom he considers one of his role models. He then brought the attention back to himself, cheekily declaring that he is an “all eyes on me” kind of man—a remark that only made fans even more kilig.
But it wasn’t all about his work on screen. Hwang In-youp also gave fans a glimpse of his personal favorites, particularly when it came to Filipino food. During the fan meeting, he revealed his love for Jollibee and halo-halo, even sharing that he wished there were Jollibee branches in Korea. His staff, he added, also look forward to having the Filipino fast-food favorite whenever they visit the country. He had even stopped by a nearby store to buy some pasalubong, including banana chips. Although he enjoys street food, he revealed that he has yet to try some Filipino favorites, such as kwek-kwek and balut.
Of course, the highlight of the evening was the chance for fans to interact with Hwang In-youp up close. Three lucky attendees were randomly selected to join the actor for three-minute acting scenarios, each set in a different setting: a sunset date in Boracay, a reunion with an old friend on a rooftop, and a secret office romance. The scenarios gave fans a chance to share an imagined moment with him, much to the excitement of the audience, who could not help but wish they were in their place.
The fun continued in the second part of the fan meeting with a quiz that tested how well fans knew Hwang In-youp. Attendees had to choose between two options based on his personal preferences, sitting down whenever they got an answer wrong until only a few remained standing. While this segment would typically end with just one lucky winner, Hwang In-youp decided to make the moment even more special by inviting all nine remaining fans onstage. He then took photos with and hugged each of them one by one, giving more of his Filipino supporters the chance to share a memorable moment with him.
Having spent several years studying in the Philippines, Hwang In-youp has fond memories of the country that extend beyond his visits for fan meetings. During the event, he expressed his interest in taking on an acting project in the Philippines or being part of a production with the country as its setting. He also casually mentioned ABS-CBN while talking about the possibility, drawing excited reactions from the fans.
For Hwang In-youp, “To You” was also an opportunity to show a different side of himself, beyond his role as Woo Soo-bin in Dream to You. Throughout the evening, he made sure to express how much he appreciated his Filipino supporters and how happy he was to be back in Manila.
With that history in mind, his promise to return felt especially personal. As the fan meeting came to a close, the actor told the audience, “With no joke, if you keep looking for me, I can come back here anytime.” He then jokingly added, “If not, it’s fine,” making the fans laugh.
The evening ended with Hwang In-youp serenading his fans with “Promise,” a song from Can This Love Be Translated? Reflecting on the song, he shared his hope that even when people speak different languages, they can still feel the love being expressed to one another.
And perhaps that was the perfect way to end “To You:” a reminder that even across languages and distances, the connection between an artist and his fans can always find a way to be felt.