My own moments with Ji Chang Wook

I haven’t been to the church of Wook for some time now, but the instant I saw him again here in Manila, I knew that I would forever be a Ji Chang Wook girl.

Ji Chang Wook at his Bench fan meet on August 4

Ji Chang Wook with Ben Chan onstage and backstage after his fan meet (IG @bcbench)

Giddiness washed over me as I saw him walk past us, as we were in line for a photo opportunity backstage at Smart Araneta Coliseum, shortly before his Moments with Ji Chang Wook fan meet last August 4. I gasped and gave him an awkward smile. I am sure I looked like a dork. It was his second fan meet produced by Bench for Chang Wook as their #GlobalBenchSetter.

The photo op was quick, and it was over just when I remembered he just had his birthday on July 5. As if my tongue-tied self could say anything. But because he was so nice and smiled at us throughout, showing that cute little Indian dimple, I wish I could have snuck in a quick Saeng-il chukahamnida (Korean for “Happy Birthday”).

Ji Chang Wook is 37 now—and boy, is he ripped. Wearing a white Bench shirt with folded sleeves, he unwittingly flexed his arms after making himself comfortable on the chair onstage.

Ji Chang Wook looking great in a white Bench t-shirt

Ji Chang Wook sends his fans screaming at the Bench show.

Chang Wook looked a little perplexed as to why the venue suddenly shook with our screams. “He’s so manly!” I shouted to TheDiarist.ph founder Thelma San Juan, who was seated beside me.

Thanks to the super talented and quick-witted host, Sam Oh, Ji Chang Wook understood why everyone just lost it—and smiled.

Moments with Ji Chang Wook was only an hour and 15 minutes long, but was made memorable by his fan interactions and his three songs, my personal favorites.

Ji Chang Wook opened the show with Kissing You, the upbeat OST of the Lotte Duty Free short romantic drama Seven First Kisses. It’s one of my absolute favorite Chang Wook songs. I want to kick myself for not taking an entire video of him singing it live, but I also wanted to concentrate on watching him perform. Oh well. Ji Chang Wook also sang Even Though I Loved You from the musical The Days, and wrapped up the show with I Will Protect You, a song from his breakthrough hit Healer that he always sings for his fans.

Ji Chang Wook’s voice, when he talks and when he sings. is a rich, sweet baritone that you’ll love to listen to, like, forever.

A few days ago, Facebook memories reminded me that six years ago, I fell into the Korean drama rabbit hole. Healer wasn’t even the first Korean drama that I had seen, but Ji Chang Wook was the Korean actor who drew me deep into the wonderful world of Hallyu, and there was no looking back.

Walking down memory lane, I realize that I do have a list of moments with Ji Chang Wook. Wow. I’ve been a super lucky fan with equally crazy friends who joined me in these YOLO adventures:

1. December 2018. I was a new fan who dragged her friend to freezing Busan to see Ji Chang Wook, to watch him in his military musical. We understood five Korean words, but the music was beautiful! And it was poignant to watch Ji Chang Wook in a musical, given that he has his acting roots in theater. (You could hear our disappointment that he was wearing a face mask. Haha! Ji Chang Wook is the one in a red beanie, at the 1:00 mark. Fellow actor Kang Ha Neul is seen in 0:29.)

2. April 2019. Welcoming back Ji Chang Wook after his military service. My friends and I left Seoul at dawn to travel to Cheorwon province, near the demilitarized zone, where Chang Wook was stationed. We got lost and almost missed this moment where he walked into the sunlight. That face was a sight to behold.

3. May 2019. Two weeks after his military discharge, I was back in Seoul for his first fan meet in almost two years, Late Spring, Early Night. I absolutely could not breathe when he walked towards us with those jelly beans!

4. Still May 2019. After the show, my friends and I waited for Ji Chang Wook at the venue’s parking lot with many other fans from the world over. When we saw him, we just started shouting, “Ji Chang Wook, come to the Philippines!” Well, he heard us apparently.

5. One-on-one interview with Ji Chang Wook for TheDiarist.ph. I admit I couldn’t sleep the night before the interview. This photo will forever remind me that I did my dream interview with Ji Chang Wook with the darkest circles around my eyes.