YOO Min Gon is Bela Padilla’s Korean leading man in the Summer Metro Filmfest entry “Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko”. He’s not as movie star handsome like other Korean heartthrobs, but he is very charming and has a fairly good screen presence.

We’re glad that he was nominated as best actor in the summer filmfest awards night. When he went up on stage with Bela to present an award, we heard some people say: “He looks better pala in person.”

In the movie, he meets Bela as a Korean guy in Manila who asks her to sign his copy of the best selling book that she wrote. He learns that she loves things Korean and invites her to join him in Seoul so he can show her around.

Bela says no but in the next scene, they’re already at the airport on their way to Korea. Yoo acts as Bela’s photographer while she is having her pictures taken in front of her favorite Korean landmarks.

As maybe expected in love stories like this, romance soon blooms between them, but there is a big twist in the story. It’s revealed that this is not really the first time they meet as they’ve already met six years ago.

Bela herself wrote and directed the movie and we wish she was able to really streamline the storytelling and plug all the loopholes. The narrative hangs on a plot mechanism that is quite jolting, so it’s really up to you if you’re willing to buy it or not.

One narrative strand that we wish was given more attention is that of Lorna Tolentino’s character as Bela’s mom who worked as an OFW in Korea. All of a sudden, we’re told she no longer wants to return home to Bela and her dad, Boboy Garovillo, in Manila. We’re not told why.

Then, Lorna does something that is very vital to provide the shocking twist in the story. And again, the circumstances that prompted why she did it is not properly explained to us. No rhyme, no reason. We just have to accept it.

At any rate, Yoo serves as Bela’s shock absorber and crutch in her times of trouble. Bela says she got Yoo in the lead because he speaks fluent English. This is not surprising since Yoo grew up in Vancouver, Canada, where his family migrated.

He just returned to Korea later to cultivate a showbiz career, like other local actors who grew up abroad and returned to Manila to get into local showbusiness. He has appeared in some indie films there but has yet to get a big break.

Here’s hoping his exposure in this Manila movie will help boost his career and make producers and directors in Seoul take better notice of him. Yoo was at the premiere night of “Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko” and Bela revealed that he was crying while watching himself on screen.

“He was so touched, panay ang punas niya ng luha niya,” Bela says when the press talked to them after the screening.

Yoo confesses he knows nothing much about the Philippines before he came here to shoot the movie. “When you say Philippines, I associate it with mangoes and avocados that are very expensive in Korea,” he says. “And also the beaches. I know that you have a lot of beautiful beaches.”

He hasn’t gone to any local beach so far, but he enjoyed going to Ayala Museum and Enchanted Garden. “And I also enjoy the good food, like crispy pata, kare-kare, pancit palabok, sisig and grilled liempo,” he adds.

Doesn’t he miss Korean food? “No, because there are so many Korean restaurants here and also Korean grocery stores. I didn’t know they’re everywhere here.”

He finds Bela very talented and attractive, but he has no plans of wooing her as he already has a girlfriend in Korea. “And also, Bela has a boyfriend in Europe,” he says.

He is flying back to Korea after the Summer Metro Filmfest awards night. But he says he is willing to fly in again anytime as Viva Artists Agency is now handling his career here in Manila.