KUALA LUMPUR: South Korean singer-actor Lee Min-Ho may be primarily a K-Pop fan who enjoys the music of BTS, but Malaysian singers also "make his day".
At the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil here today, the 35-year-old star of films as Gangnam Blues and television dramas as City Hunter greeted pop queen Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, and expressed admiration of her "beautiful voice".
"I'm not familiar with Malaysian singers, but I know some of them are superb and world class, especially Siti Nurhaliza," said Lee (with help from a translator) at the Cuckoo Apprecia8th Anniversary Concert at the Axiata Arena.
Lee described his Malaysian fans as "cool and sweet" and he had fond memories of his first visit to Kuala Lumpur in 2016.
"Hello Malaysians. Saya sayang kamu!" he said in his shout-out to fans.
In welcoming Lee to Malaysia, Siti said: "It's an honour to meet South Korea's biggest film star. Min-Ho is an inspirational entertainer who is good in acting, singing and being a friend to all his fans around the world."
Lee and Siti, brand ambassadors of household appliances company Cuckoo, cut an eighth anniversary cake in the three-hour concert which began at 8.30pm.
Siti performed four of her hit songs Sama-Sama, Ku Mahu, Ku Milikmu and 7 Nasihat, a duet with hip-hop stars Kmy Kmo and Luca Sickta.
The other artistes who entertained fans at the packed indoor stadium were Datuk Jamal Abdillah, Jaclyn Victor, Misha Omar, Aina Abdul, Hael Husaini, Dolla, Floor 88, Naqiu, Amelina, Khai Bahar, Tomok and Dina Nadzir.
Lee gained worldwide playing the protagonist Gu Jun-Pyo in the South Korean drama Boys Over Flowers (2009).
This role earned him the Best New Actor award at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards.
His notable roles in television series include Personal Taste (2010), City Hunter (2011), Faith (2012), The Heirs (2013), The Legend Of The Blue Sea (2016) and The King: Eternal Monarch (2020).
Lee also starred in the 2015 film Gangnam Blues and the Chinese film Bounty Hunters (2016).
The most followed South Korean actor on social media, Lee became the first Korean celebrity to have a wax figure made in his image at Madame Tussauds, London, the United Kingdom.
Lee has three studio albums to his credit and his best known songs include Pieces Of Love, Love Motion, My Everything, Say Yes and Song For You.
Cuckoo International chief executive officer K. C. Hoe said that the concert was to mark the company's appreciation for all of its customers.
"Now is the right time to hold this concert to cheer Malaysians up after going through two years of a raging pandemic.
"We want to take this opportunity to show our gratitude to all our customers and hope for better days ahead," he said.