Manila – Yuri, also known as Girls’ Generation’s Black Pearl, returned to the Philippines to meet her fans as a solo artist in her first-ever fan meet titled “Yuri Chapter 2,” held on July 9, 2023, at the New Frontier Theater.
As a SONE who missed the chance to meet the girls back in 2013 and in 2015, meeting Yuri for the first time was definitely a memorable experience. Not to mention, she is just as, if not more, amazing as she performs different songs and dances. I was also impressed by how she interacts with her fans during the fan meet.
She started the event with her performance of her song released in 2018, “Into You.” Watching her perform her single really shows why she is Girls’ Generation’s Main Dancer. SONEs in the venue cheered throughout the performance of the song, demonstrating how some missed Yuri and others had been eagerly anticipating the chance to meet her.
After the performance, the next segment is for fans to get to know Yuri as she answers questions and shares her experience in the Philippines. There is also a QR code that the live audience can scan, allowing them to send messages and questions to a platform where Yuri can read and answer them.
“I usually receive DMs and letters from PH SONEs, and I felt their energy from the beginning of the show,” Yuri said. The South Korean idol mentioned that she would like to visit Bohol to scuba dive and also try Jollibee, as the chickens there are bigger than the ones in Korea.
Yuri also discussed her YouTube channel, where she asked Filipino SONES to continue supporting her and to look forward to the release of the vlog from her visit to the Philippines.
“How can I feel tired when SONES are so warm and wonderful?” Yuri said, after being asked if she gets tired from being very hands-on with her YouTube channel and her tour.
On the next activity, Yuri discussed her previous roles in different shows such as “Sound of Your Heart,” “Invincible Youth,” and “Survival Zone.” One of the most memorable parts of this segment is when Yuri shared some of her experiences during the shows with SONEs. She also realized that she is braver than her partners, Yoo Jae Seok and Lee Kwang Soo, as she witnessed their fear during the recording of Survival Zone.
After engaging in a very intimate conversation with fans on the Corner, Yuri performed “1,2 Step” by Ciara, “Dessert” by Hyoyeon, and SNSD’s Oh-GG’s “Lil Touch.”
The next part of the fanmeet focused on the “off-camera” segment, during which Yuri shared exclusive photos from her family vacation and her personal life outside of the camera.
The most memorable photo for me was of Yuri eating ghost peppers and discovering that they are one of the hottest peppers. It was a moment of enlightenment for her, finally understanding why she felt so hot at that time. The video of her imitating a sleeping dog, which was recorded by Choi Sooyoung, gained attention from Filipino SONEs who suggested using the hashtag #DogShowYuri for the video.
The fan meet will not be complete without the exciting games. Yuri joined the “Tagalog Tongue Twister” Challenge, “Tablecloth Subtraction,” and the “Decibel Games,” where he tasted local snacks.
She performed “Butterfly” and surprised the audience with an encore performance of Girls’ Generation’s “Gee.”
Yuri Chapter 2 Fan Meet in Manila ended with warm hearts and happiness all around, with SONEs eagerly anticipating more interactions with Yuri and Girls’ Generation (SNSD) in the future.
The Girls’ Generation vocalist was discovered at the age of 12 and made her debut at 18 years old. She asked the Filipino SONES to support her for a possible second album, as well as more acting and variety show projects.
“Hoping my SONES will stay by my side for the next chapter in my life,” Yuri said.
We thank CNCA Media for giving us the opportunity to participate in this event.
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Photos by Richard Esguerra
