Sihoo-ssi’s 37th Birthday Tour

We are Family 우리는 가족!

Today, 3 April 2015, marked Sihoo-ssi’s 37th birthday. His family – blood family, new family and extended family the world over were here to celebrate this very special day with him in Seoul. In person or in spirit, the family well wishes came through to him in the sincerest forms, right from the very hearts.

These well wishes, hundreds were shown in the opening video, but I am sure in reality, it was very much more. Some of these were familiar and when these little well wishes were put together, they formed the photo of Sihoo-ssi that graced all the materials of this PSH Birthday Tour 2015, including the huge banner spanning 3 floors of the Lotte World Hotel lobby!

Park Sihoo-ssi went around to light up the candles at every table

Sihoo made his entry lighting candles on every table, giving us an opportunity to see him at close quarters. Ladies, if you think Sihoo-ssi looks mighty handsome on screen, you will surely swoon when you see him an arm’s length away. He is many times better looking in real life, yet so personal. Pint-size, small built, muscular and larger than life..standing next to him, I felt like an elephant!

As with tradition, a birthday boy needed a birthday cake and one large one was wheeled on stage. All of us sang Happy Birthday 상일 추가합니다 in Korean and Sihoo-ssi blew out the candles that made 0403 with gusto. I fervently wished him the very best in 2015 with resounding career success and finding the love of his life.

The compere, the one who hosted the JFMs last year, interviewed Sihoo on the launch of Scent and also talked about his debut CD sales which came in overall 3rd during its run and No 1 on Day 1 launch for Tower Records in Japan…okay, I admit, I could only discern from the video which played on screen as I understood zero Japanese.

Sihoo-ssi sang both songs in his debut album – Kimowo. He read his letter to fans in the second song, in Korean, which is another language I don’t understand. Maybe I am biased but I read a lot of emotions – all sincere and coming from the heart.

There was an interactive session when Sihoo picked a few tables where he went down stage to the tables picked and did funny things for everyone at the tables – giving a 3 seconds massage, making love gestures with his hands, rubbing the hair of the person, dancing his crazy dance in CDDA, and imitating a video to do qwiyomi gestures…he was most shy with gwiyomi as we know, and tonight he was absolutely adorable in his shyness!

To me, the segment that left the most impression was the series of videos featuring family members defining the meaning of family and sending Sihoo-ssi birthday wishes. From his fans – with three creators of the selected works being among the audience and they were called on stage to tell the audience their version of family. From his new family – the newest Hoo Factory employee who replaced Mr Chubby…and equally chubby, Euro who calls Sihoo-ssi “brother”, from his real life brother PWH and from his beloved Eomeoni (Mother). Everyone talked deeply about how they felt about PSH and sent their birthday greetings. I can’t tell you what they said due to language barrier but made someone briefly translate what his mum said.

His mother defined what being family meant – the joy of being together as a family unit with Sihoo, his brother, father, grandparents, aunties and uncles. Sihoo-ssi brought a lot of joy to his family. His mum calls him “Boss” and “boss” was a mischievous and naughty boy and Eomeoni used to receive complaints from neighbors because the “boss” liked to wield a long cane to whack the heads of neighboring boys. Ah, aspiration of being “boss” in childhood becoming a reality now with Hoo Factory? We know who is the Manager (PWH), now we know who is “Boss”!

Mum had to have the last word of course, and she said to Sihoo-ssi “Boss!”

Celebrating Park Sihoo-ssi’s 37th Birthday in Seoul

To round off the birthday party, Sihoo-ssi sang CDDA’s theme song “Rain” and to chorus of “encore” came out to mingle among the audience singing “Season in the Sun”, before we ended the party by taking “family photos” with Sihoo-ssi and receiving gifts from him – his personally autographed photo and products from his latest CF Newe cosmetics.

Did I enjoy the party? You bet I did! I didn’t get to be that close to him as I did in Shanghai Airport but at arm’s length and within a meter’s length when he came down stage to mingle with the fans and do his cute gestures at neighboring tables.

I will be on the bandwagon for the premiere of “Love After Love” in Korea, Japan and China, if I can find time. I hope everyone can join too and give Sihoo-ssi the very best wishes for his new movie!

We love and support Sihoo-ssi always because we are Sihoo-ssi’s family 우리는 가족!

Photo Credit: All photos by Nance