Only Lee Sung-kyoung could strut on a theater stage, strike a pose, say (not shout) “sweeg” and send fans into overdrive.
But sweeg is not simply the Korean superstar’s catchphrase, it’s something that oozes out of her whatever she does, be it dancing to Blackpink’s “Kill This Love,” walking down the runway or playing bato-bato pik.
In her first ever “Be Joyful” fan meet in Manila last July 27, Sung-kyoung showed that she could be campier than her quirky character Kim Bok-joo.
Sung-kyoung won the hearts of K-drama addicts when she starred as barbecue-eating, fried rice-loving, naengmyeon-slurping college wrestler in the titular role of “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.”
A day before her fan meet, the 28-year-old Seoulite revealed to the media that not many people know that she could be “more comedic” than Kim Bok-joo in real life. Sung-kyoung was not afraid to show this unknown side of her to loyal fans who spotted her at the airport, at the mall, in a Korean barbecue joint (where she flexed both her arms) and at the fan meet at SM Skydome in Quezon City.
The multifaceted personality sang the intro of “From Now On” by Kim Min-seung, the theme song of “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.” She also treated her fans to a keyboard performance and a “Part of Your World” song number—even if she had a cold.
“I had a reflection of Kim Bok-joo’s [character] on the way here. I wanted to be prepared to be the best I can when I meet my fans,” she said.
Sung-kyoung recently went viral when a video of her singing “A Whole New World” at the top of her lungs was reuploaded online. Lea Salonga, who performed the song in the Disney animated film “Aladdin,” reposted the video with the caption “This is so adorable!”
And Sung-kyoung was nothing short of adorable.
When asked which role she related to the most, she replied: “Micha? Bok-joo?” she teased and the fans went wild.
“As Kim Bok-joo, I turned into (her) personality. But since Michaela is the first child, in real life we’re much more alike,” said Sung-kyoung.
Sung-kyoung played family breadwinner Michaela Choi in the 2018 fantasy drama “About Time.” She’s also known for her outrageous role as Baek In-ha in “Cheese in the Trap.”
But for Sung-kyoung, “It’s Okay, That’s Love” was a “great gift” to her as she was able to act alongside senior actors like Lee Kwang-soo. Sung-kyoung was already an established model when she was cast in the 2015 drama. She had no formal training as an actor, but this itty-bitty detail did not set her back. In fact, Sung-kyoung was, and still is, unstoppable.
She did not spill the tea on her next project, but Sung-kyoung said: “I want to try new things.”
It’s no secret that Sung-kyoung is very dedicated to her craft. For her first lead role in “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo,” she had to gain weight to physically fit the role of a college athlete.
Though she is multitalented in the music and dance category, Sung-kyoung told her fans that she’s not gonna be the next big Korean idol.
“I never thought about it because I’m too tall,” she said, much to her fans’ disappointment.
But her towering stature has been one of her greatest assets. The Ferragamo model graced the cover of Vogue Girl and Korean fashion glossy CéCi. In 2017, W magazine said that the 5’9” superstar is Korea’s answer to Gigi Hadid.
One could say that Sung-kyoung stands out because of her magnetic hazel eyes, but this “ulzzang” (best face) shared with her Filipino fans that the LSK glam is beyond the looks.
“Be confident and be yourself,” she said. It’s not about the fashion trend, Sung-kyoung added.
The Korean star will turn a year older on Aug. 10, and as a surprise, Filipino fans sang the “Happy Birthday” song in Korean. There was even a cake and a video montage.
Sung-kyoung shared that before she turns 40, she wants to visit her “Filipino fans once again, live a month abroad with her family, be healthy and have a better drama project.”
We’re already counting the days till our next joyful meeting with Sung-kyoung.