When South Korean singer-actor Hwang Min-hyun showed up at the Junction 8 Atrium looking all polished and princely in a pristine off-white suit, even he wasn’t quite prepared for the rousing welcome awaiting him from several floors of the mall.
“This is my first time back after seven years, and I was really surprised that so many fans came to see me today,” he told MS News during a group interview on Saturday (22 Aug).
I’m so grateful. Every time I come to Singapore, I receive so much love from the fans, and that gives me the energy and motivation to work even harder when I return to Korea.
The former NU’EST and Wanna One member brought a little star power to bustling Bishan as part of a special appearance at Lenskart’s Frame Your Style pop-up, which runs until 23 Aug.
Visitors can browse and try on the brand’s latest eyewear collections while taking part in various interactive activities.
However, five lucky fans arguably scored the most enviable interaction of the afternoon.
Before playing stylist for others, Hwang first got to indulge in a little eyewear dress-up himself, spending some time on stage trying on frames from Lenskart’s different collections and picking out his favourites.
The selection ranged from clean, contemporary styles to tinted lenses and convertible frames, though judging by the crowd’s reaction to each pair, he basically looked good in all of them.
After modelling the spectacles himself, Hwang then had to put his styling eye to the test, personally choosing a pair of Lenskart glasses for each of five lucky fans.
And if anyone expected him to simply grab the nearest pair and call it a day, they clearly underestimated just how seriously he would take the job.
One by one, he appeared to scrutinise each fan’s face, outfit, and overall vibe before making his pick.
He also verbalised some of his styling decisions, with his choices largely guided by how well the frames complemented each person’s clothes and overall look.
That tracks with Hwang’s own approach to eyewear, which is largely guided by how well a pair complements what he’s wearing that day.
“Today is an important occasion because I’m meeting my fans, so I wore a suit,” he explained.
“But a suit on its own could look a little plain, so I chose glasses that could add a ‘point’ to the look. That’s usually how I choose my glasses, too; I think about how everything works together.”
The five fans eventually joined him on stage for photos, striking cute poses for the camera and enjoying a few brief exchanges with him.
Those watching from the sidelines weren’t entirely left out either.
Throughout the event, Hwang frequently glanced up towards the different floors of the mall to wave, smile, and acknowledge fans who had spent part of their precious weekend coming down to see him.
Before leaving, he also made his way around the event space to get closer to the crowd, generously providing plenty of opportunities for close-up shots.
Safe to say, countless camera rolls probably left Junction 8 happily bursting with his handsome face.
Given the attention to detail he showed while picking out frames on stage, it perhaps comes as no surprise that Hwang is no stranger to eyewear offstage either.
He estimates that he owns around 30 pairs, switching between them depending on his outfit, mood, and overall vibe.
Glasses have also become especially familiar thanks to ‘Study Group’, in which he plays Yoon Ga-min.
Hwang said the character’s signature thick-rimmed frames initially felt foreign.
But after spending so much time as Ga-min across two seasons, they now feel “like part of my body”.
Source: TVING on Facebook
Hwang also had an update on the series, revealing that he had wrapped filming for the second season just before flying to Singapore.
As for what comes after that, he remained coy, but hinted that another announcement may not be too far away.
“I can’t share the specific details yet, but I think I’ll soon be able to share some news that fans will be excited about,” he teased. “So please look forward to it.”
One thing Hwang was slightly more forthcoming about, however, was Wanna One, the hugely popular 11-member project group formed through ‘Produce 101 Season 2’ that was active from 2017 to early 2019.
He recently reunited with his former bandmates for a nostalgic performance at KCON in Los Angeles.
He described the experience as both “fun” and “happy”, adding that even the preparation process brought back plenty of good memories.
Source: @_yoonj1sung_ on Instagram
And if another reunion becomes possible, he already knows what he wants to do next.
“If we get the opportunity to come together again after everyone continues working hard in their respective places, I would really love to hold a concert for Wannables,” he said.
Nearly 15 years into his career after debuting with NU’EST in 2012, Hwang has already tried his hand at group and solo music, musicals, and acting, but he is far from done exploring.
One thing still on his bucket list is becoming a radio DJ.
He told MS News that it would preferably be during a laid-back night-time slot, though he added that he is already grateful simply to be able to keep doing the work he loves.
That openness to new experiences is something Hwang said has grown with age, with unfamiliar environments and fresh challenges no longer making him quite as nervous as they did when he was younger.
It’s an openness that extends to acting as well, where he hopes future roles will let audiences see a side of him they have yet to encounter.
He had previously mentioned wanting to play a psychopathic villain, though he clarified that he is less fixated on that exact archetype than on simply breaking away from the kind and upright characters he has largely played so far.
“If I get the chance to try something new, I really want to show a side of myself that I haven’t been able to show before,” he said. “I’m working hard and preparing myself so I can do that.”
With his schedule packed so tightly that he had arrived in Singapore only the evening before the event, Hwang admitted that there hadn’t been much time to explore.
“Singapore is such a great place, and there are many places I want to visit and lots of food I want to eat,” he said on stage, naming chilli crab and kaya toast among the local favourites on his list.
Beyond the food, however, much of what Hwang spoke about during his visit came back to the fans who had waited seven years to see him in Singapore again.
He recalled being left with a particularly fond impression of them during his last visit with NU’EST, adding that he had missed them in the years since.
That perhaps explains why Hwang is already hoping the next reunion will come much sooner.
“I hope there will be an opportunity in the near future where I can be together with Singapore fans again,” he said.
The Lenskart Frame Your Style event runs until today (23 Aug) at Junction 8. For more information and updates, follow Lenskart on Instagram.
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Featured image by MS News.