Changmin describes seeing actor Won Bin at Cheongdam intersection

TVXQ member Changmin recounted a chance encounter with actor Won Bin during an appearance on a YouTube channel hosted by social studies instructor Lee Ji-young, media outlets reported.

Changmin Describes Spotting Won Bin at Cheongdam Intersection

During the YouTube segment released on the 21st, Changmin and Lee Ji-young discussed various topics, including baseball and the distinct aura projected by prominent celebrities. When the conversation turned to stars who command an undeniable presence in person, Changmin shared a story about seeing Won Bin near the Cheongdam intersection in Seoul while stopped at a traffic light.

Changmin, who has frequently described himself as a devoted fan of the actor and claimed to have watched the 2010 film The Man from Nowhere over 50 times, said he sensed an unusual atmosphere from dozens of meters away. Upon closer inspection, he realized the person was Won Bin.

I really like the actor Won Bin, Changmin said during the broadcast. Describing the moment he recognized the star from afar, he added, I saw the handsome older brother I’ve liked and admired since I was young. Although it violated the Road Traffic Act, I just wanted to leave my car parked in the middle of the road and keep watching.

Changmin recalled that Won Bin’s appearance was so striking it momentarily made him view his own reflection differently. Because I had to start driving again, I looked in the rear-view mirror, and my face looked like it was drawn with dotted lines in two dimensions, he said, prompting laughter on set.

In the same conversation, Lee Ji-young shared her own celebrity encounter from her university years, comparing notes with Changmin on the physical impact of seeing top-tier stars. Lee recalled attending classes alongside actress Kim Tae-hee during the height of Kim’s early endorsement campaigns.

Lee described going to the restroom during a break and looking into the mirror after seeing Kim’s small facial structure and large eyes up close. Suddenly I turned into a sea cucumber, sea anemone, or squid, Lee said, explaining that she had rarely felt ordinary until standing near Kim. Changmin responded to the anecdote by expressing his ongoing ambition in the entertainment industry, stating that becoming an acquaintance of Won Bin remains one of his remaining personal goals.

Acting Career and Background of Won Bin

Won Bin debuted in 1997 through the KBS television drama Propose and subsequently built a prominent acting career through projects such as Autumn in My Heart, Ta극gi (Taegukgi), and My Brother. Following his starring role in the 2010 action thriller The Man from Nowhere, Won Bin stepped back from screen roles and has not taken on subsequent acting projects. He married actress Lee Na-young in 2015, and the couple has one son.