More than a decade later, Kim Bum came back to the Philippine shore for a heartwarming reunion with his Filipino fans!

Kim Bum returned to the Philippines for his first-ever fan meeting titled Between U and Me at the New Frontier Theater on September 22. Presented by VIU Philippines, the two-hour show was a fun reunion between the actor and his fans.

Well known for his role as the chaebol playboy in the Korean iteration of Boys Over Flowers in 2009, Kim Bum became a beloved figure in the Philippines at the peak of the drama’s popularity. In the same year, he visited Manila to shoot an advertisement for a popular beverage brand. However, back then, his fans barely got to see him partly due to the apparent aftershock of Typhoon Ondoy. Now, thankfully in better circumstances, fans got to see and experience different sides of his personality – the perfectionist, the entertainer, and the all-around charmer.

Now a seasoned actor at 34 years old, he is also known for his acclaimed roles in the dramas Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Ghost Doctor, and Law School. The title Between U and Me is an alternative acronym taken from his first name BUM. As he told the crowd, he scrupulously worked out the details of the fan meet for 3 months, modifying the program as well as rehearsing his special performances.

We saw the fruits of his labor in his segments such as the Kim Bum Awards and Bum’s TMI wherein we learned that he falls under the INTJ/The Architect category for his MBTI; his favorite season is spring (like the meaning of his name Bum/Beom); and he prefers to be identified as cool instead of cute. More to that, his most memorable role was when he played Lee Rang in the drama Tale of the Nine-Tailed, but he will always be very grateful for his role in Boys Over Flowers as it was through it that many of his fans got to know him.

Kim Bum also flaunted his refined skills as an idol. He performed covers from the soundtracks of the dramas he appeared in, including “Because I’m Stupid”, “Kiss the Rain” and “Wind Song”. As a bonus, he sang “My Universe” originally by Coldplay and BTS, much to the crowd’s surprise. The audience also got to see his quirky dance moves when he danced certain portions of trendy K-pop hits like Jisoo’s “Flower” and LE SSERAFIM’s “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife”.

Lucky fans also got their chance to get up close and personal with him onstage. A lottery was held before the start of the show and the winners had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play relay games with Kim Bum himself during the event. Some even got a rare selfie with him (plus a short hug).

With an unwaveringly bright smile from start to end, Kim Bum expressed his gratitude to his fans. “Sobrang nafeel ko ang pagmamahal niyo today. Iingatan ko ito sa puso ko hanggang sa susunod nating pagkikita”, he said. (Translation: I greatly felt your love today. I will carefully take this with me until our next meeting.)

Special thanks to VIU Philippines!

by Sandra Mae Laureano