Kim Ji-won Performs Girls’ Generation’s ‘Genie’ at Fan Meeting Amid ‘Doctor X’ Backlash

The actress reunited with fans in Seoul for WONEDERLAND, bringing piano-backed vocals, handmade gifts and a surprise dance performance to her first fan meeting in two years.

Kim Ji-won gave fans a different kind of performance from the operating-room intensity of Doctor X, filling her latest Seoul fan meeting with singing, dancing and opportunities to spend time together. Held on October 24 and 25 at Sungshin Women’s University’s Unjeong Green Campus auditorium, the 2026 fan meeting WONEDERLAND marked her return to the format after two years, with a program that ranged from a gentle musical opening to a spirited Girls’ Generation cover.

The reunion took place as her SBS medical drama continued to attract attention both for its ratings and for an episode involving the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement. Sports Kyunghyang reported that some viewers had directed abusive comments at the actress’s social media accounts over the storyline, although the account of the fan meeting centered on her performances and interactions with supporters rather than a public response to that criticism.

From a Piano Opening to a Girls’ Generation Surprise

Kim opened the event by singing Baek Yerin’s “Whenever” with piano accompaniment, establishing a softer atmosphere before moving into the audience-participation segments. The change of pace gave fans a chance to see her outside her screen roles, as the program moved between musical performances, playful challenges and conversations with the audience.

One of the major surprises arrived at the beginning of the second half, when she performed Girls’ Generation’s “Genie,” known in Korean as “Tell Me Your Wish.” The choice followed another memorable dance cover at her previous fan meeting, where she performed 2PM’s “My House,” continuing a musical thread between the two events while introducing a new routine for this year’s audience.

The performance brought a livelier energy to a program that had begun with restrained vocals and piano, and the event report described an enthusiastic response from fans. Later, Kim performed PSY’s “Entertainer” toward the end of the show, giving the closing stretch another upbeat musical moment after the challenges and more personal exchanges.

Handmade Gifts and Time to Hear Fans’ Stories

The fan meeting also made room for activities built around direct interaction. During “Wonder Bingo,” Kim took on dance challenges and memorable-line challenges, including a mission to reinterpret popular dialogue in her own style, while another part of the program invited fans to share their concerns with her.

Those conversations were accompanied by a hands-on “One Day Class” segment, during which she made items including beaded bracelets and lucky-turtle hand mirrors to give to fans. The handmade presents added a personal element to the event, with the actress creating keepsakes during the program rather than limiting the interaction to a question-and-answer session.

For the photo segment, Kim tried on pieces including a cape and an F1-style racing jacket, adding another playful change of mood between activities. After the performances had ended, she remained for a “hi-bye” farewell, making eye contact with fans individually as they left the venue.

“I Wanted to Make WONEDAY Smile”

Reflecting on the reunion, Kim thanked WONEDAY, the name of her fandom, and explained that making them happy had guided her preparations. She said she had worked hard in the hope of making fans smile, described the time together as a happy experience for herself as well, and expressed gratitude for their continuing support.

That message connected the different parts of the program, from the dance covers to the handmade gifts and individual farewells. Across two days, the event offered several ways for fans to engage with her, whether through watching a performance, participating in a mission or listening as she responded to stories from the audience.

Following the Seoul dates, Kim is scheduled to continue her Asian fan-meeting tour with stops in Macau, Taipei, Yokohama, Osaka, Hong Kong and Bangkok. The announced itinerary extends WONEDERLAND to six more cities, although the supplied report did not include individual dates for those appearances.

The ‘Doctor X’ Backlash Surrounding the Reunion

The fan meeting coincided with renewed debate over Doctor X: The Age of the White Mafia, in which Kim plays surgeon Gye Su-jeong. According to Sports Kyunghyang, the drama recently recorded a 19.5 percent audience rating, while its sixth episode’s treatment of the Gwangju Democratization Movement prompted criticism from some viewers and abusive comments directed at its lead actress.

That reaction provides context for the timing of the reunion, but the fan-meeting report does not establish how Kim personally felt about the comments or describe an onstage statement addressing them. Her quoted remarks instead focused on thanking fans and hoping they had enjoyed the occasion, keeping the documented account of WONEDERLAND firmly centered on the time she shared with her audience.

Editor’s Note: Kim Ji-won’s first solo fan meeting, BE MY ONE, took place in Seoul on June 22 and 23, 2024. HighZium Studio’s official account subsequently shared news of its completion, establishing the earlier event behind descriptions of WONEDERLAND as her fan-meeting return after two years.