It was worth the wait. After nine long years, JUNG ILHOON finally reunited with Filipino LOONEEs, turning an ordinary evening into an unforgettable memory that many thought would never come.
On July 18, the SM North Skydome was filled with laughter, tears, and heartfelt moments during the JUNG ILHOON 1st Philippine Fancon: 1-DAY ART CLASS.
For fans who had waited nearly a decade, the night felt almost surreal. What once seemed like a distant dream became reality as they spent precious hours with ILHOON, cherishing every smile, every song, and every heartfelt exchange, wishing the evening would never end.
JUNG ILHOON Solo Fancon in Manila Recap
The night kicked off with ILHOON‘s first solo performance on a Philippine stage, opening with “She’s Gone” from his first mini album, Big Wave. It may sound like an exaggeration, but while some fans screamed and cheered him on, others—including myself—were in tears, unable to process the fact that ILHOON was finally back.
He greeted the crowd with “Salamat sa paghihintay” (Thank you for waiting). But I hope he knows that we are the ones who are endlessly grateful for his return. It took nine long years, but having him back on stage made every single second of waiting worth it.
Memorable day for LOONEEs
Between performances, lucky fans had the chance to join Ilhoon on stage for interactive games, with the winners taking home a solo Polaroid photo with the artist.
The first activity was a number game. Players had to count upward one number at a time without saying the same number simultaneously as another participant. Anyone who called out a number at the same time as someone else was eliminated, and the last remaining player who failed to say the next number was also out.
The second activity was a telepathy game, where participants had to predict the pose ILHOON would do. Fans who correctly matched his pose advanced, making for a fun and lighthearted segment that brought plenty of laughs from both ILHOON and the audience.
A night to remember
Of course, ILHOON also treated fans to performances of some of his beloved tracks, including “Spoiler,” “Lullaby,” “Moonwalk,” “Dance,” “Longway,” “MIND,” “jamesdean,” “OASIS,” “MICHELANGELO,” “EXIST,” “Merry-Go-Round,” “Devil Can Wait,” and more.
To make the night even more special, LOONEE(s) PH prepared a heartfelt fan project featuring a banner event, thoughtful gifts, and a video compilation of messages from Filipino fans dedicated to Ilhoon.
Deeply touched by the surprise, Ilhoon thanked everyone for their unwavering love and support and promised to return to the Philippines again soon. He even joked that if he watched the fan project video at home, he would probably cry like a baby. But since he was on stage, he had to hold back his tears and keep the show going.
This event is made possible by SB Town. Pop Journal extends its gratitude to SB Town for the media invite to cover ILHOON’s solo fan concert in Manila.
Photos: Paula De La Cruz
