South Korean actor Bae In-Hyuk reigns in Singles’ Day—an Asian celebration of being single and finding love—with fans at The Shops at Skyview in Flushing Nov. 10.
The Shops at Skyview hosted the first ever celebration of Singles’ Day (similar to Valentine’s Day) in a United States mall from Nov. 9 to Nov. 10 with fashion, fun, and games. To help usher in this holiday, which is traditionally celebrated on Nov. 11, South Korean actor Bae In-Hyuk served as the event ambassador to get everyone into the holiday spirit.
Bae In-Hyuk was all smiles when he arrived in Queens, ready to experience the city he has only seen in movies and through social media. He shared with amNewYork Metro that he was still reeling from the view of the skyline at the Edge’s observatory deck the night prior.
“I’ve seen parts of New York City on Instagram here and there, but now I’m really here. I first feel very excited, and I want to visit more places. I want to go to Brooklyn and SoHo,” Bae In-Hyuk said with the help of a translator.
For the K-Drama heartthrob love is something he specializes in with his roles in “The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract,” “Cheer Up,” and “My Roommate is a Gumiho.” Whether it is a romantic comedy or an action-packed adventure, Bae In-Hyuk has delved into his roles with such fervor that audiences cannot help but fall in love with his shows.
“In K-Drama, the romantic part is very essential. Like most dramas have romantic parts, so I feel ready to act in these roles because this acting requires a certain detail and sensitivity. This helps also to grow as an actor,” Bae In-Hyuk said.
Love is something Bae In-Hyuk takes very seriously, so when looking for that special person he tells amNewYork Metro that he wants to be with someone who is thoughtful, cute, polite and well-mannered. His desire is to walk down the street and hold hands with the person he cares for; however, this is not possible as someone who is constantly in the limelight. So, while dating may be somewhat of a difficult task, his belief in the power loves remains steadfast.
In light of his insight on love, Bae In-Hyuk helmed the Singles Day celebration not just meeting and greeting fans, but for one day acted as their boyfriend. He shared with them which person shared a style that matches his personality, cooked for ramen and gimbap for a few lucky guests, played a host of games and handed out chocolate Pepero sticks.
“It is very special to me [to celebrate Singles Day] here, and I’m so thankful that I was chosen the event ambassador…It’s fun and good memories to see Singles Day celebrated for the first time in the United States,” Bae In-Hyuk said.
Bae In-Hyuk burst into the acting scene and skyrocketed to popularity, and throughout his many roles Park Jung-Woo in “Cheer Up” stands out above the rest because he was proud of the way he portrayed his character (who ended up being the main reason why the story’s mystery was solved).
While Bae In-Hyuk credits his astounding acting journey at just 26 years old as simply being lucky and blessed, his dedication to the craft is unwavering.
“I feel so blessed, and I couldn’t have this success without the support of my co-stars. Together we work to make great dramas like my film the ‘Marriage Contract’ is number on Rakuten Viki. I’m blessed [with this success] because we work hard to act together,” Bae In-Hyuk told amNewYork Metro.
Although he considers himself still new in the field, the only advice he hinges on and would share with others is to “never give up.” He told his supporters that he cannot envision himself in any other career and strives to do his best in every role he takes.
“I’m very happy to see many American fans,” Bae In-Hyuk said at the Flushing event. “It’s a great opportunity to meet fans in the United States. I’m so thankful.”
For fans eager to see more of Bae In-Hyuk, his next drama will be a historical romance entitled “Check in Hanyang,” which will premiere on Dec. 21.
