2024 rewind: K-pop and K-drama highlights
Filipinos are the best crowd in the world. The energy we generate is unlike any other. It’s not just our singing along with the artist that sets us apart—it’s the way we feel the music in our bones and dance to it. Then, we talk about the experience for days, weeks, and months. A once-in-a-lifetime moment becomes something that lasts forever. That’s why artists love us.
2024 has been another wonderful year for Filipino K-pop fans. If there was a frenzied urgency to make up for the lockdowns in 2023, the past year saw a more relaxed frequency of events. The country continues to be a favorite stop for K-pop acts. Here are just some of the notable events held in 2024.
Enhypen’s Fate World Tour was the first concert held at New Clark City (NCC) in Pampanga. The event was complemented by free carnival rides outside the venue, a feature never before seen in any K-pop event worldwide. It was an epic celebration of the septet’s popularity among young K-pop listeners. If NCC develops the venue further—adding more restrooms, addressing the need for food outlets, improving traffic flow, and offering more public transport options—it could become a viable alternative to the Philippine Arena.
As the genre’s popularity continues to rise worldwide, so does the interest of promoters in bringing second- and early third-generation K-pop groups to the country.
Longtime K-pop fans were spoiled by the lineup of acts that came in 2024. Manila was the first stop for 2NE1’s reunion after Seoul. After two sold-out nights, fans are clamoring for a bigger venue.
Vocal powerhouse
Vocal powerhouse BTOB performed as a group in the Philippines after a long hiatus, fulfilling a dream for many fans. Shinee members Onew and Taemin showcased their skills as soloists, much to the delight of Shawols. Kim Myung-soo, also known as Infinite’s L, signed with Universal Records Philippines and GLXY Entertainment after his local fanmeet. Super Junior’s Yesung also flew in for his fanmeet.
They weren’t the only group whose members came in installments. Exo ensured their fans didn’t miss them, with members coming in as solo acts. We got to know Xiumin, Suho, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, and D.O. through their individual events.
Female artists also had a fantastic year in the country. IU delighted everyone with her onstage performance, while her mom surprised fans by gifting photocards. She continues to set the standard for what it means to put on a memorable show. Itzy’s cons and events felt like a lively party, as did Ive’s. Twice showed their fun side with a quick fanmeet in the country. We’re so glad that Red Velvet is truly out of the basement as they were meant to perform onstage.
Fourth-generation acts also made their mark. Stray Kids returned, as promised, in a bigger venue. They’ve been dreaming of performing at the Philippine Arena since they appeared there for the Asia Artist Awards in 2023. Treasure once again proved why they are performance monsters while The Boyz showed why they are favorites onstage. ZeroBaseOne and Riize experienced the Filipino crowd’s energy for the first time in 2024.
‘Lovely Runner’
Fans of Korean dramas weren’t left out, either. Kim Ji-won, Byeon Woo-seok, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Seon-ho, and Kim Soo-hyun spoiled their fans with successful fan meets that left lasting impressions.
Woo-seok is undoubtedly one of this year’s success stories after “Lovely Runner” became a hit series. He earned awards for his performance and was named Prada’s newest brand ambassador. The series resonated deeply with K-pop fans, as its story hits close to home.
But it’s not only time-travel shows that we enjoyed watching. “Marry My Husband,” starring Park Min-young, satisfied our cravings for revenge. Watching Min-young deliver the pettiest and cruelest punishments was incredibly satisfying.
The pairing of Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun made “Queen of Tears” one of the most-watched series of the year. Their chemistry made hearts flutter as the complex relationship between their characters unfolded.
Fantasy shows also claimed their share of the spotlight. “Gyeongseong Creature” started as a period drama but evolved into a modern-day monster story. Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee took us to a world where humans transform into super monsters, and the only thing that can save them is the humanity that still resides within.
‘The Judge From Hell’
The saying goes “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Park Shin-hye embodies the avenging demon in “The Judge from Hell” as she seeks justice. We need more shows like this, where we witness evil-doers face the punishment they truly deserve. In this show, murderers get an express ride to hell as Shin-hye delivers the same cruelty they inflicted upon their victims.
“Jeongnyeon: A Star is Born” is likely one of the most underrated series of the year. The show stars Kim Tae-ri as the titular lead and features a phenomenal ensemble, primarily composed of female actresses who portray lovers, teachers, and friends. The series subtly explores lesbian undertones, providing refreshing representation of LGBTQ+ characters—free from being a joke. If there’s one show you must watch from 2024, it’s this one. Not because of the LGBTQ+ takes but because the story is compelling as Jeongnyeon strives to fulfill her dreams. It is not the only queer-themed drama that made waves this year. “Love in the Big City” follows the explorations of Go Young, played by Nam Yoon-su, as a gay man in Seoul.
Webtoon artist and screenwriter Kang Full (“Moving”) returned with “Light Shop Keeper”, starring Ju Ji-hoon and Park Bo-young. The series plays with the concept of the afterlife and includes plenty of jump scares. It’s like stepping into a haunted house at first, but as we get to know the cast and their backstories, it transforms into a heart-wrenching drama about life and celebrating it.
The much-awaited new season of “Squid Game” was also released before the year ended. After three years, we get to follow a determined Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) as he seeks to take down the game masters. He no longer resembles the loser we first met, and we were ready to both laud and once again be disappointed by the complexities of human nature.
