South Korean heartthrob Cha Eun-woo charms Singapore fans with Singlish, using 'shiok' and 'you best lah' at first solo fan concert

South Korean actor-singer Cha Eun-woo, affectionately known as the "Face Genius," held his first solo fan concert in Singapore on Saturday (13 April). The concert left hundreds of fans not only dazzled by his dancing and singing but also impressed by his quick grasp of Singlish.

His two-hour solo event, "2024 Just One 10 Minute (Mystery Elevator)," organised by Viu, took place at the Star Theatre at 7pm.

During a segment of the fan concert, where Cha engaged in Q&A sessions and interacted with fans (referred to as Aroha, the official fandom name for his group Astro), the emcee asked a question, "What was the word that you wanted to hear the most from Singapore Aroha?"

Cha replied, "You're the best," which also happens to be a song title from his solo debut album, "Entity".

The emcee then asked if he could teach Cha the Singlish way of expression, to which Cha enthusiastically responded and quickly added 'lah' to his address to fans. Cha said, "you best lah!"

He was also taught expressions like "wah lau eh" to express disappointment, which he executed so convincingly that the emcee said, "I think you become Singaporean already."

Expressing his interest in trying pepper crab, Cha quickly picked up the term "shiok" to describe its deliciousness. He continued to use this term throughout the fan meet to express his admiration for his fans in Singapore. "Shiok ah!"

Singlish charm wins hearts at the fan concert

After the concert, fans told Yahoo Southeast Asia that they were charmed by Cha's ability to pick up Singlish. Zara Pang, 30, said, "I've never been to a fan meet before, so I can't compare, but I really liked the impromptu moments, like when he used 'shiok.' It felt like there was a personal connection."

For 20-year-old Xin Yi, it was her first time attending his concert, and she was also impressed by how quickly he incorporated the Singapore slang. "He picked it up so fast, and during the encore, when they said it was over, but he performed more songs, it added to the atmosphere," she said.

Cha, who released a solo album this year, eight years after debuting with Astro is considered one of South Korea's biggest stars, with roles in hit dramas like "True Beauty" and "A Good Day To Be A Dog."

During the fan concert, he performed songs from his album, including the title track "Stay," as well as covers such as "As Long as You Love Me" by the Backstreet Boys, and even sang some Astro hits like "Crazy Sexy Cool" and "Candy Sugar Pop."

Astro previously performed in Singapore in 2017, evoking nostalgia from fans who have been supporting them.

Julianne, 22, reminisced about attending Astro's previous concert when she was in secondary three, and now attending Cha's solo fan concert, saying, "I feel a sense of accomplishment for him, and it feels like I've grown up with him as well."

She also joked, "His Singlish pronunciation is very good; he can already sign up for a Singapore passport."

Cha Eun-woo leaves Singapore fans wanting more, teases future encounters

Reflecting on his time in Singapore, Cha said, "Already seven years have passed, and I'm now in Singapore alone with this concert, and that really hits me differently... Whether it's seven years ago or now, you guys (Aroha) always welcome me with such warmth, so my heart is warmed, and this first concert means so much to me."

He also hinted at the possibility of future encounters with his fans, saying, "Starting from the Just One 10 Minute (Mystery Elevator) concert, I have a gut feeling that we might be able to see each other more often in the future."

As the concert drew to a close, a teaser in one of the videos at the fan concert suggested a possible return, saying, "See you again next year."

Cha is currently on his Asia fan-con tour, with upcoming stops in Jakarta on 20 April and Hong Kong on 26 April.

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