Choi Minho, the “Flaming Charisma” of K-pop supergroup SHINee, held a press conference ahead of his highly anticipated solo concert, “Mean: Of My First,” at the New Frontier Theater. The Manila show marked the grand finale of his solo concert tour, a journey that began in South Korea and traversed across Asia.

Minho expressed his fondness for the word “first,” explaining that it embodies meaningful moments and experiences. “This concert [tour] of mine is a first for me as well, so I want to keep those moments and experiences in my heart,” he said.

He conveyed his genuine happiness at the opportunity to embark on a solo tour, a feat he initially couldn’t believe was possible. “I never expected that I could hold a solo concert here in the Philippines or a solo concert in general, But because of the big love and support that Shawols (SHINee World) give me, this concert happened.”

Minho also shared that during his flight to Manila, there were fireworks somewhere in the city that he could see from the plane and that felt like it was welcoming him back in the Philippines. Two things that he also enjoys in Manila are the weather and the warm welcome and energy of the fans.

Beyond connecting with his fans, the tour provided Minho with valuable insights into his artistry. “It also helped me realize my weaknesses and strengths as an artist.” Minho also shared that there’s not a lot of difference between the Minho we know from SHINee and his solo activities, except that he is in a group when with SHINee and he performs his ‘music style’ preference when he works solo.

With nearly 17 years in the entertainment industry, Minho’s desire to evolve and showcase new facets of himself remains strong. He has not only excelled as a member of SHINee but also established himself as a solo artist with an EP (“Chase”) and a full-length album (“Call Back”), alongside a successful acting career. Some of his notable and recent dramas are “Romance in The House,” “The Fabulous,” “Goose Bumps,” “Yumi’s Cells.”

“I’ve been in the industry for a long time. The fans have seen many sides of me. I just want to be creative and show new sides to the fans… I am also grateful to the fans who have supported me for a long time. There are times when I reach my limits. But because of the help I get from my staff members, we make a step-by-step process to make these projects possible. So that’s the help I get from my staff members to grow and reinvent myself as an artist.”

When asked about the secret to his longevity, Minho attributed it to authenticity he showed to the public. “I think it’s just me being honest with myself, true to myself. The fans really like that side of me,” he said. “In the future, I’ll just be true to myself, transparent and honest so that the fans will also appreciate me.”

The 2025 MINHO CONCERT [MEAN : of my first] IN MANILA is presented by L-Squared Productions.