JAPAN: South Korean actor Song Seung-heon arrives to a huge fan reception in Tokyo.

Record ID: 1499784

  • Title: JAPAN: South Korean actor Song Seung-heon arrives to a huge fan reception in Tokyo.
  • Date: 14th December 2006
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 12, 2006) (REUTERS) FANS IN AUDIENCE SONG SEUNG-HEON DRAWING A NUMBER FROM A BOX FANS SCREAMING FAN WHOSE NUMBER WAS CHOSEN, STANDING UP AND WALKING TOWARDS STAGE TO MEET SONG SEUNG-HEON SONG SEUNG-HEON SHAKING HANDS WITH FAN VARIOUS OF SONG SEUNG-HEON SHAKING HANDS AND POSING WITH FANS FOR PHOTOS FAN WATCHING THROUGH BINOCULARS (SOUNDBITE) (Japan
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2006 13:12
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAF8HTTNX4XK6ZCDK62CVYF0BZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Popular South Korean actor Song Seung-heon visited Japan for the first time on Tuesday (December 12, 2006) to greet loyal Japanese fans who had waited years for his comeback to show business after his military service.
    At the arrivals lobby of Tokyo's Narita international airport, local media estimated approximately 6,000 fans awaited for their hero's arrival, while 300 police officers were dispatched to take control of the excited crowd.
    "I love him far more than my husband," said a middle-aged Japanese fan who had waited for hours to see him.
    "His eyes are beautiful and enchanting," said another female Japanese fan who had also been waiting behind the railing guarded by security police.
    The baby-faced Song, a 30-year-old star of television dramas, has gained a huge following in Japan, particularly among middle-aged women like his predecessor Bae Yong-joon who triggered a "Hanryu" (Korean) boom which has made many Korean actors and actresses celebrities in Japan despite the bitter history between the two neighbours.
    Song set a new record for the largest gathering of fans at the airport in Japan, breaking Bea Yong-joon's record of 5,000 marked in November 2004.
    Shortly after arriving, Song held a meeting and a press conference for 350 lucky fans whose names were picked from more than 200,000 and who got the chance to meet with their hero free of charge.
    After introducing himself in broken Japanese, some fans whose lucky numbers were drawn by Song were invited on stage to shake hands and pose with him for a polaroid photograph.
    "I don't remember anything. When I was face to face with him, I felt like walking on air," said 50-year-old Chieko Sato who was one of the lucky fans posing with Song on stage.
    "I am pretty sure that no woman in the world could refuse him a date if he looked at her with those eyes," added another winner, 35-year-old Shizuko Ochiai.
    Song will leave Japan on December 14 and he is set to come back in March 2007 for yet another fan meeting at Tokyo's stadium -- but next time fans will have to pay to attend.
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