South Korean actor Lee Jong Suk has abruptly canceled the Manila stop of his 2025 Asia Fan Meeting Tour ‘WITH: Just Like This!’ just under two weeks before the scheduled date.
His agency, Ace Factory (and local promoter Wilbros Live), announced the cancellation on November 17, citing “unforeseen circumstances” related to large-scale public safety concerns.
The Official Reason for Cancellation
Agency Statement: Ace Factory confirmed that the cancellation was due to a “rally scheduled for the same date,” and the decision was made “after careful consideration, prioritizing the safety of fans, the artist, and all staff.”
- The “Unforeseen Circumstance”: The unexpected event is a massive, ongoing series of anti-corruption protests in the Philippines. These protests are specifically aimed at condemning the alleged corruption and misuse of billions of dollars in government funds intended for flood mitigation projects. Public outrage has intensified following recent destructive typhoons that have caused significant casualties and severe flooding.
Lee Jong Suk (Credit: YouTube)
- Protest Scale: Recent reports indicate that the demonstrations in Manila have drawn hundreds of thousands of participants, including a major three-day rally organized by the influential Iglesia ni Cristo sect, which has shut down roads, offices, and schools. The protests create significant security and logistical risks in the capital.
Fan Reaction and Tour Context
The cancellation, which came less than two weeks before the event, caused a mix of disappointment and appreciation among the fanbase.
Local vs. International Fans: Local fans expressed disappointment but largely appreciated the safety-first approach taken by Lee’s team. However, international fans who had already purchased flights and accommodation specifically for the Manila show voiced frustration, questioning why a postponement to a later date in 2026 was not arranged instead of an outright cancellation.
Refunds: Local promoter Wilbros Live confirmed that all tickets purchased would be refunded. The process was detailed, with credit/debit card purchases receiving automatic refunds within 15–30 banking days, and cash purchases requiring an in-person visit to TicketNet on December 15–21, 2025.
Tour Status: Lee Jong Suk kicked off his ‘With: Just Like This!’ Asia tour in Seoul in September, followed by successful stops in Tokyo, Osaka, and Taipei. He is still scheduled to meet fans in Bangkok and Hong Kong later this year, as the agency promised they “sincerely hope that actor Lee Jong-suk will have the opportunity to meet Filipino fans again in the near future.”
The cancellation serves as a clear indication of the severity and volatility of the current political environment in Manila, superseding the actor’s planned engagement.
Lee Dong Hwi, the younger brother of ASTRO member and actor Cha Eun Woo, has stepped into the public spotlight not for his resemblance to his famous sibling, but for his expertise in the tech world.
The researcher is garnering significant attention after appearing as an Artificial Intelligence (AI) specialist at the Korea AI Summit & Expo 2025 in Seoul.
AI System: From Personal Concern to Commercial Solution
Lee Dong Hwi, who works as a researcher at Unbound Lab Dev, a venture capital firm with a focus on AI solutions, delivered a lecture on November 10th at COEX in Seoul.
The title of his presentation immediately drew interest: “AI Made for My Brother Evolves into a Brand Verification Tool.”
Cha Eun Woo’s Brother, Lee Dong Hwi (Credit: YouTube)
The Inspiration: In a pre-event interview, Lee explained that his proximity to the celebrity world, particularly his brother’s career, led him to focus on the unique challenges faced by public figures. He observed that celebrities, entertainment companies, and brands are constantly searching for ways to better communicate with fans and gain actionable feedback from massive data sets.
The Solution: The AI he planned and developed began as a personal project to solve these communication problems. It is an AI Data Crawling Model—a technology that automatically collects, extracts, and organizes unstructured data from websites and social media (including sentiment analysis and brand mentions), making it instantly usable by AI models.
Current Application: The solution is now evolving into a brand verification engine and a system to protect celebrities. The AI is designed to help organize data feedback and, crucially, address the issue of malicious comments. Lee stated, “Celebrities inevitably endure a lot of pain from malicious comments… we are planning a system with our CEO to help protect those exposed in the public eye.”
Strong Academic and Professional Background
Lee Dong Hwi’s professional credentials underscore his status as a legitimate expert in his field:
- Education: He is a graduate of the prestigious Fudan University in China, where he majored in media and journalism/mass communication.
- Professional History: After graduating, he worked at a prominent domestic advertising agency, identified in media reports as Cheil Worldwide, before joining Unbound Lab. At Unbound Lab, he works on AIX projects and provides research and consulting services, exploring efficiencies in using foundation models to solve niche management problems across industries.
Public Attention Rises
While his work earned him a spot at the major AI summit, his connection to Cha Eun Woo significantly amplified the public interest.
- Viral Cameo: Lee first caught the public’s eye in June when he made a brief, approximately five-second appearance on the tvN variety show ‘You Quiz on the Block.’ He was spotted walking with colleagues from the advertising agency where he previously worked. This short cameo went viral due to his sharp, clean-cut features, which strongly resemble his famous brother.
- Brother’s Praise: Cha Eun Woo himself has previously spoken about his younger brother, once describing him as “more talented and has a smaller face than I do,” further fueling the public’s fascination with the ‘genius-visual’ family.
Lee Dong Hwi’s public lecture has successfully repositioned him as a credible AI researcher applying his tech expertise to solve genuine problems in the highly exposed entertainment industry.
