By Honorary Reporter Alfonso L. Delgado from the Philippines
Photos = Alfonso L. Delgado

The Philippines has millions of Korean drama fans, and among the few I've met, four stand out as the most loyal and enthusiastic. These ladies are always on top of the latest Korean dramas and films, and of course, the names of the cast who star in them.

The four are Cielo, Itchay, Jenny and Marlu but I collectively call them the "Korean drama queens of the Philippines." Though not related by blood, they call themselves the "Seoul Sisters" since they were brought together by their shared love of Korean dramas and films.

Even before Hallyu (Korean Wave) reached the Philippines in the early 2000s, Koreana, the Korean quartet that sang "Hand in Hand" in Korean and English at the opening ceremony of the Seoul Summer Olympics on Sept. 17, 1988, was probably the first Korean group seen and heard by the most Filipinos as the event was broadcast live in the Philippines that day.

In 2003, Bae Yong-joon starring in the hit drama "Winter Sonata" marked the entry of Hallyu into my nation, and the rest they say was not only history but a flood of Korean dramas, celebrities and music that apparently cannot satisfy the hunger of millions of screaming Pinoy fans.

Just like any devoted fan, these ladies flew to Korea to visit the sites where their favorite Korean dramas were filmed and realize their dreams of being in a scene wearing Hanbok (traditional Korean costumes). Of course, shopping for Korean cosmetics was also a major part of their packed itinerary.


They visited in Seoul the palaces of Gyeongbukgong,Changdeokgung and Deoksugung, the shopping areas of Insa-dong, Namdaemun, Myeongdong and Dongdaemun, and the popular nightlife areas of Gangnam and Hongdae.

They also went to Nami Island and Dae Jang Geum Park, a popular location for Korean dramas in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do Province, that also offers drama tours. With the help of the official website of the Korea Tourism Organization (www.visitkorea.or.kr) that provides helpful information to tourists in a number of languages and their "man on the ground" (as Marlu called me), they had fun touring Korea and getting up close and personal with their favorite Korean dramas.

wisdom117@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.