SHINee member Choi Minho was thrilled to be in the Philippines for a special milestone: his first-ever solo concert in the country.
Held on March 16, 2025, at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City, the Manila stop served as the grand finale of his MEAN: Of My First tour.
It also marked his fourth time meeting Filipino Shawols, the dedicated fanbase of SHINee.
Minho first graced the Philippine stage in 2009 during the Korea-Philippines Peace Festival, joining his fellow SHINee members Key, Onew, Taemin, and the late K-pop idol Jonghyun.
In 2013, SHINee was slated to perform at a music festival in Manila, but Minho missed the event.
However, he returned in 2017 for the Global Peace Concert, and again in 2023 for his first fan meeting in the Philippines.
exciteD ABOUT first solo concert
At a press conference ahead of his first solo concert in Manila, Minho candidly shared his thoughts about returning to Manila, embracing self-reinvention, and reflecting on his growth.
“Yesterday, when I was on the plane coming to Manila, I saw some fireworks,” he began (as translated in English), his voice filled with warmth and nostalgia.
“When I saw the fireworks, I realized it has been a long time since I came to the Philippines. It felt like the Philippines was giving me a warm welcome.”
He went on to express his excitement about holding his first solo concert in the country.
“I am very happy,” he said with amusement through his interpreter. “I did not expect that I could hold a solo concert in the Philippines.
"But because of the love and support of Shawols, this was made possible, and I am really happy about it.”
In true Minho fashion, he gamely embraced a bit of local culture when he learned the Filipino word "kilig."
His first attempt was impressively accurate as he said, “Kilig,” with surprising fluency. But then, with a puzzled expression, he asked, “But word is kill? Not kill?”
The room erupted in laughter, charmed by his innocence. Once gently corrected, Minho smiled and repeated, “Ah, kilig. Got it!”
When asked if he ever experienced "kilig" himself, Minho did not hesitate.
“Of course, like when I am on stage. I passionately prepare to show a perfect performance to Shawols.
“I also feel that way when I hear loud cheers and enthusiastic shouts from Shawols. Those are the moments that I feel kilig,” he elaborated with the help of his interpreter.
CHOI MINHO on SOLO PERFORMANCE
When asked about the challenges of staging his first solo concert and how he overcame them, Minho shared an honest reflection about his growth as an artist.
“Of course, I had to face myself, which made me realize both my weaknesses and strengths as an artist.
"By recognizing my weaknesses, I can work on improving myself to deliver the best performances for my fans.
“To prepare for a perfect stage performance, I put in more effort compared to when I was preparing with SHINee. I really focused on addressing my weaknesses to ensure that this concert is my best yet,” he explained through the interpreter.
With Minho's clear dedication to self-improvement, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked about the factors he considered essential for keeping up with the ever-evolving music industry.
The South Korean star emphasized the significance of “personal hard work” and “preparation."
In his words, translated in English: “Hard work—personal hard work to become a better artist—and preparation for stage performances are really important.
“There are times when I feel I have reached my limits, but with the support of my staff, we are able to take things step by step to make projects possible.
“Their help allows me to grow and reinvent myself as an artist.”
CHOI MINHO’S MEANINGFUL DEDICATION TO FILIPINO FANS
The 33-year-old singer-songwriter and actor revealed that if he were to dedicate a song to Filipino Shawols, it would be “Prove It.”
He explained with the help of his interpreter, “There are so many songs that I want to dedicate to Filipino fans, yet one song I would choose is ‘Prove It.’
“This concert, made possible by the love of Shawols and me, is my way of proving to the world that we have made it—that we can do this together. That is why I chose the song ‘Prove It.’”
As the conversation shifted to his experiences in the Philippines, Minho shared what he enjoys most about visiting the country: the warm weather and, of course, the support of Shawols.
“I don’t like low temperatures, so I really enjoy the weather here in the Philippines, and, of course, the cheers of Shawols,” he mentioned with a smile, translated in English.
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