Hi everyone!

We have a special treat today!

Princess Jasmine, whom you’ve likely seen around the blog, recently went on a cross-border adventure, to see her One True Love, Ji Chang Wook in person, during his fanmeeting in Jakarta, and generously offered to share the experience with us.

Isn’t that so very sweet of her?

Thank you, Princess Jasmine, for thinking to take us on your Ji Chang Wook adventure, so that we can feel the feels with you. 🥰

Please enjoy, everyone!

KFG ❤️

PS: For more Ji Chang Wook, you might like to check out my Ji Chang Wook Pure Pretty post here!

From Singapore: With Love

Photo credit: koreanupdates.com

On a very specific day in mid-Sep (3 years ago), I was browsing through Netflix to take my mind off from certain memories and that is when I chanced upon the K-Drama “Healer” and decided to give it a watch.

The first 30 minutes of the show were super-random but what unfolded after that was pure magic in terms of story, performances, songs etc and last but not the least “Healer” himself as “JI CHANG WOOK”.

I must confess here that I have had my “fair share” of “fangirl” moments with the boybands of the 90s, Bollywood of the 2000s and few other music groups in the past.

But nothing had prepared me for what followed in the last 3 years in terms of my love, affection, respect and regards for JCW both as a performer and as a human being.

Hence when I decided to attend his fan meeting in Jakarta in Dec 2022 (flying out all the way from Singapore for 2 days) I myself was amused at my energy and enthusiasm.

I am glad that I made it because the whole experience was so beautiful and precious that I will remember it fondly in the final moments of my present life (and in my afterlife, and for whatever lifetimes that follows…)

photo credit: jabarekspres.com

Having landed in Jakarta and checked into the hotel next to the event hall, I quickly got ready and ended up in the lift only to be met by two “fangirls” who were busy editing their videos with the voice of JCW singing the now very famous “I will protect you”.

Quick to act, I asked them if they were going for the event and that if I could accompany them and they smilingly obliged (How I wish I was this proactive in my work meetings 😜).

They brought me all the way to the event hall (which by now was filled with some 1200-plus local “fangirls” who had put on their best possible appearance for JCW) and left me at the redemption counter.

I have much to thank them for I would have been very hassled in trying to locate the hall in an unfamiliar country.

After redeeming the ticket, I joined the queue to deposit my belongings only to be met by another “fangirl” who had travelled all the way from Australia just for the event (she runs a fan account for JCW and we both decided to meet-up at the event hall).

Promptly at 6 pm, we were allowed to enter the hall and get seated.

I was surprised to see quite a bit of “items” placed on every seat and that included water bottle, chocolate, hand-fan, banner printed with his name and a postcard with JCW’s message to his fans hand-written in Bahasa.

For sure this guy knows how to spoil his fans.

With occasional screaming every now and then, everyone was busy taking selfies and enjoying the vibe.

And by 6.45 pm, the MAN himself appeared on stage singing the very beautiful “Do you believe in Magic”.

Amidst all the screaming and phone flashes going on, I was smiling widely and just simply starring at him 😇.

My first impressions: he is very handsome, is skinny (in-spite of his broad shoulders and muscles built up), has sharp features, is photogenic and has a mesmerising voice.

He did take off his right-side earphone to hear all of us screaming and missed a few lines of the opening song but then gestures like these are what makes us fans feel “special” and JCW nails that perfectly.

A summary of what happened next:

He enacted scenes from some of his dramas that included pillion ride from Backstreet Rookie; proposal song from Lovestruck in the City; magic show from The Sound of Magic; and the iconic umbrella scene from K2; A fan was picked up randomly to join him for each of these acts and they all happily obliged (and got to hug him as well).

He answered questions on his work from the dramas If You Wish Upon Me, The Sound of Magic, Lovestruck in the City, Suspicious Partner and K2 (yes you read it right – Healer wasn’t in the list and I don’t know why – time constraints maybe).

The loudest cheers were reserved for K2 and we all know why 😉.

Looks like we will get to see him again in action genre (with shirt both on and off) in his up-coming drama in 2023.

I was personally happy to see him talk about “Noh Ji-uk” from Suspicious Partner as that’s my favourite character of his.

Three lucky ones were chosen to take selfies with him and all the three made the most out of it. I noticed that when he obliges to hug the “fan”, he hugs them with such warmth and without hesitation.

He sang 6 songs in total which are: Do you believe in magic; To the butterfly; 101 reasons why I like you; Kissing you; Even though I loved you; I will protect you.

His vocals were amazing for a K-drama actor, and I could feel that he genuinely enjoys singing for his fans.

This is why I think his “fan-meetings” are always going to be more enjoyable and intimate compared to that of other actors (no offence here to any other actor – they are all good in own their way 🙏).

Special mention on the high notes he sang for “Even though I loved you” – watch it to believe it. And props to that mike as its design absolutely complimented its holder.

[Not from the fanmeet, but I found a version of Ji Chang Wook singing “Even though I Loved You” on YouTube. Please enjoy. ~KFG]

I absolutely loved the “sight-seeing video” that featured JCW wherein he is checking out the local places, trying out the local food, etc.

Looks like he is shooting this video for every country wherein he is performing. Whoever came up with this idea must be appreciated because it connects him to the local fans in a special way as they can see him enjoying what their country has to offer.

And when he read out the fan letter, it really hits you at a different level because the words are so meaningful.

Honestly, we are all going to love him anyway and that’s why we are there but to see someone of his stature reciprocate that “love” makes me like him even-more 😇.

Also, I have seen him look good in varied designer clothes in the photos shared online yet he managed to make such an “impression” in that simple green shirt/white pants.

Either I am exaggerating here or this guy is simply the best out there.

Finally, he came on stage to sing the evergreen “I will protect you” and by-now I was emotional and all teared up.

He can sing this song a million times and I bet I will be as moved as the first time listening to it because I genuinely think that it’s my late father singing it for me personally through JCW.

With curtains coming down, I am sure that given a chance every one of them in the hall would have wanted to take him home. That’s how gobsmackingly charming he is, and you don’t want to go apart.

But alas the reality of life hits you and it is time to say goodbye. I am not going to talk about the “meet and greet” session after the event because it’s the only “30 seconds” personal time I ever got to be with him alone and hence that’s only for me to cherish.

Photo credit: theseoulstory.com

And the adage “everything happens for a reason” holds true for JCW.

I remember watching his video that he shot days before he joined the military service way back in mid-2017.

He looked very emotional in it not knowing what would await him after he returns from the service in mid-2019. And with the world going into lock-down, he had to cancel his proposed tours in 2020 and 2021.

Hence to see him finally meeting his fans and entertaining us backed up by such “remarkable work” that he did in the last 2 years is probably what destiny had in plan for him.

Note that he may not have delivered blockbuster/trending dramas in these 2 years but whatever work he did were so realistic, humane, meaningful and showcased his diverse range of acting.

Now keeping fingers crossed for all the awards he is going to win in 2023.

Women have come a long way since the Dark Ages.

In that context it was nice to see all of us (teenagers, 20’s/30’s aged-girls, mothers, married, single, above 40’s and 50’s women) having fun and living out our “fangirl” moments (for at least a few hours in our life) without being judged and in a safe and secure environment.

For that I want to thank the event organisers, security officers, JCW’s agency for conducting this event safely and without any hassles.

And to all the “fangirls” who were so well-behaved, followed the orders, respected the queue despite our over-flowing enthusiasm for JCW – well-done girls 🙌.

Finally, though my husband is no “Ryan Gold”, yet I thank him for giving me the space and freedom to “feel” this way about JCW and listening to all my “fangirl” stories.

And to the man himself – JI CHANG WOOK – saranghae…oppa…saranghae – for all that you were, are and will be.

~Princess Jasmine

PS: I got very emotional once I reached my room, couldn’t sleep much and had severe withdrawal symptoms in the morning. Future attendees just be aware of this and prepare accordingly.

I had to force myself by late morning to go “window shopping” in the nearby mall to get myself back together.