Fan Meeting
2019 Park Ji Hoon Asia Fan Meeting
in Manila “First Edition”
March 15, 7 p.m., Araneta Coliseum
SINGERS breaking away from their band to kick off solo careers may find performing alone somewhat unsettling. From sharing the stage with 10 other members, to suddenly exclusively owning it with the expectation that he can carry a whole show by himself can be overwhelming.
But for Korean singer Park Ji Hoon, the 18-month journey with Wanna One was enough to give him the required confidence and the proper training to embark on a solo career.
Wanna One was a boy group formed by entertainment company, CJ E&M, mad up by the best performers from season 2 of Korean talent competition, Produce 101. The temporary team was launched in August 2017 and had its final concert last January. It has established a huge global following in barely two years, staging a sold-out worldwide tour and holding dozens of fans meetings and events in and outside of Seoul. Wanna One was unexpectedly phenomenal.
In a press conference preceding his fan meeting on March 15, the 19-year-old Mr. Ji Hoon admitted that stepping away from the shadows of Wanna One is a bit of a challenge.
“Coming from a group, it is very difficult to be alone. It could be burdensome, but I will try my best as a solo artist,” he said, adding he looks forward to holding a one-man concert soon and having more opportunities to meet his fans. He recently opened his own website, but the Internet site crashed due to the sheer number of users, a testament that his followers, who call themselves “Mays,” are committed to patronizing him.
Although disbanded, Mr. Ji Hoon, said Wanna One members support each other’s solo careers.
For his first fan meeting at the Araneta Coliseum, the former child actor opened with an intense dance to routine to Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” then proceeded with a Question-and-Answer portion, played games with select members of the audience, and personally designed eco bags which were later raffled off, complete with bouquets of roses.
During the two-hour show, he also covered SHINee Taemin’s “Press Your Number” complete with the trademark hyper dance moves, as well as the ballad “Young Twenty.” He also performed a medley of “Wanna” and “11” and “Hide and Seek.” Considering that he was not the lead vocalist in Wanna One, he ably carried himself during the performance.
“I am happy to embark on this Asia tour and be with you,” he told the Araneta crowd.
The fans were waiting Ji Hoon to perform some songs from his upcoming solo album. However, since the release will not be until March 26, he requested that they wait until then.
“I prepared for a lot for this and I look forward to your support,” he said, while keeping mum on the concept and other details about his debut CD. He, however, said that he went to Prague to shoot the music videos.
With Produce X airing soon, Mr. Ji Hoon has this advice to this season’s reality show contenders: “Practice hard and practice well.” As he did. Now, he is reaping the rewards of his hard work as a solo artist. — Cecille Santillan-Visto
