The Philippine Star

Stay safe so you can see him soon

- JOANNE RAE M. RAMIREZ

Retail magnate Ben Chan, whose IG teaser, “Your crush, landing soon,” splashed over a background of army fatigues, sent the titas, the ahjummas and noonas of Manila into a tornado of a tizzy, has one advice: “Ladies, stay home and stay safe! For Hyun Bin.”

What? “Because the sooner we flatten the curve, the sooner we can see Hyun Bin in the flesh,” explains Ben, who confirmed to PeopleAsia in an exclusive last week, “It’s not that we’re getting Hyun Bin. We’ve gotten him already!”

To those living under a rock, Hyun Bin, popularly known as “Capt. Ri” is the hero of the Netflix hit, the Korean drama, Crash

Landing on You (CLOY ), which was the most watched Netflix show in the Philippine­s for months, and remains in the Top 10 long after its last episode last February.

According to the PeopleAsia interview with Ben, “The deal involves Hyun Bin appearing in billboards wearing the latest fashion from Bench and a special appearance in Manila.”

But as to when that special appearance would be, Ben said, “Only God can tell. Once it’s safe for everyone to travel, he’s definitely flying to Manila.”

So Ben’s sound advice to those who would like a glimpse of Hyun Bin’s well-chiseled features and broad shoulders, is: “Let’s all flatten the curve first and fly him here.”

Ben said the agreement with the 6’1” Hyun Bin, who was cast as North Korean Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok in the 16-episode Netflix blockbuste­r, Crash Landing on You, was signed early this year.

“Negotiatio­ns began late last year,” says Ben, who is the chairman of Suyen Corp.

As a marketing man, why does he think Filipino women have a collective crush on Capt. Ri, and why do the men want to be like him?

“Women like him and men want to be like him because Capt. Ri is protective and dependable. He will fight for his woman, even risk his life for her. In these uncertain times due to the pandemic, Filipinas want to know they have someone like him who will look after them, and give them a shoulder to lean on. And the men — I think every gallant Filipino wants to hold up an umbrella to protect the love of his life.”

Hyun Bin wasn’t just play acting when he portrayed an Army officer in CLOY as he enlisted in 2011 in the South Korean Armed Forces where he served for 21 months. Thus, the physique and gallant qualities of a military officer is part of Hyun Bin’s persona.

Aside from of course the fact that even when not in uniform, Hyun Bin or Capt. Ri can carry clothes well — from turtle necks to white polo shirts to trench coats. (Even if he never showed his muscled torso to us during the conservati­ve

CLOY, just a portion of one of his scarred broad shoulders, methinks Capt. Ri has a Bench body!)

So there you go, titas, noonas, ahjummas. Your date with your Binnie is all up to you!

 ?? Photo from www.netflix.com ?? Hyun Bin, popularly known as ‘Capt. Ri’, is the hero of the Netflix hit, the Korean drama Crash Landing on You (CLOY).
Photo from www.netflix.com Hyun Bin, popularly known as ‘Capt. Ri’, is the hero of the Netflix hit, the Korean drama Crash Landing on You (CLOY).
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