His nickname?

Vietnam's "Nation's Son-in-Law."

"Ilwoo is family in Vietnam."

"Hello, Vietnam!" (Xin chào Việt Nam)

As he spoke his greeting,

The airport erupted in chaos.

Even the airport staff rushed over

to ask for his autograph.

"I've been a fan of Jung Il-woo for 14 years now. I completely fell for him after watching 49 Days back in 2011. I still can't believe he's really here in Vietnam—this must be a dream, right?" (Local fan)

Actor Jung Il-woo visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from the 28th to the 31st of last month. He participated in local events ahead of the release of the Korean-Vietnamese co-production film Mom, I'm Going to Abandon You (director Mo Hong-jin).

On the 29th, Dispatch attended the film's press conference and red carpet event. The temperature reached a high of 33 degrees Celsius that day. However, the sweltering heat did not dampen the enthusiasm of the fans.

Let's take a closer look at the excitement of the day.

First, the press conference. Jung Il-woo's face clearly showed signs of nervousness. It was understandable—this was his first official schedule in Vietnam. Having prepared for this moment for a long time, he couldn't hide his trembling excitement.

"Please support my first step a lot."

"Mom, I'm Leaving You" is a heartwarming family film. It tells the story of Huan (played by Tuan Tran), a poor street barber in Vietnam.

Huan's mother, Le Thi Han (played by Hong Dao), suffers from dementia and often recalls the beautiful moments of her past. Jung Il-woo appears as Jung Min, her Korean ex-husband from her younger days.

We can't forget the special cameo. Actor Go Kyung-pyo makes a surprise appearance as Ji-hwan, the son of Jung Min (played by Jung Il-woo). What kind of tear-jerking story will this father and son bring to life?

"Vietnam's Beloved Mom's First Love"

"Gotta save this look on my phone!"

This first love?

He even sings like a dream.

In the film, he wins the heroine's heart with a heartfelt rendition of the Vietnamese classic "Lệ đá" (Tears of Stone). Jung Il-woo memorized the Vietnamese lyrics himself and performed the song while playing the guitar, creating an emotional and unforgettable scene.

"Encore, please!"

"Love turned into tears,

leaving only fleeting longing behind ♬" (from Lệ đá)

"What's the first thing a man in love should do?"

"He must overcome the language barrier."

Pronunciation, tones, intonation… Vietnamese has many aspects to pay attention to. However, fueled by love, Jung Il-woo overcame every barrier. Without a teacher, he learned the language firsthand by interacting directly with local actors.

His partner in this journey was none other than his co-star,

Juliet Bảo Ngọc.

"It was my first time delivering lines in Korean, too. We taught each other our languages and learned together. Step by step, we figured out how to express the right emotions and perfect the pronunciation. I have so many joyful memories from that time." (Juliet Bảo Ngọc)

Director Mo Hong-jin, who helmed the film, expressed utmost satisfaction. He was deeply impressed by Jung Il-woo's passion.

"(Jung Il-woo is) a very dedicated learner. He even suggested on set that we translate some Korean lines into Vietnamese himself. That's when I thought, 'This is true dedication from an actor.'" (Director Mo Hong-jin)

Even during breaks, he was fully immersed in signing autographs.

He poured his heart into every single poster.

With no room to move,

the first and second floors were packed with fans and reporters.

Everyone was waiting for Jung Il-woo.

As he appeared,

a storm of camera flashes and cheers erupted.

"Thank you for waiting so long!"

Jung Il-woo high-fived every fan.

"Is this the runway?"

There's no time for his hands to rest.

Making eye contact was a given.

He never lost his smile.

The main cast of 

Leaving Mom has reunited.

Before the stage greeting began,

Local actors prepared a surprise gift—

a basket filled to the brim with ripe mangoes.

"I heard you like Vietnamese mangoes?"

모두가 한 마음으로 그의 베트남 방문을 환영했습니다.

Jung Il-woo responded with a bouquet of flowers.

The flowers he chose were peonies, which symbolize 'mother.' He expressed his gratitude to Hong Dao, who plays the mother in the film. Hong Dao is a beloved veteran actress known as Vietnam's "Mother of the People."

Leaving Mom achieved a full house during advance ticket sales on June 30th and 31st at 234 theaters nationwide in Vietnam. The film also ranked first in local ticket sales.

Jung Il-woo focused on the meaning conveyed by the film.

"I hope this film helps you feel the importance of family once again."

Finally, here is the message Jung Il-woo wants to share with his fans.

"Next year marks my 20th anniversary since debut. I'm grateful to connect with fans through various works. I will continue to show my best, so please keep supporting me as always."

[Photo Credit: Dispatch DB, CGV Vietnam]