I did it, everyone! I actually did it! You might be wondering, "Mari, how are you still this crazy after all these years?" But honestly, when it comes to a chance to see Sung in person, my heart just does not have a "chill" mode!
And let me tell you—he was once again the absolute sweetest human being on the planet. He treated me like a long-lost best friend! Then, the highlight of my entire life happened: He told me we look like twins! Honestly, looking at the photos, I can kind of see it... lol! 👯♂️
Since last year, Sung has been a whirlwind of energy, appearing at International Auto Shows and car events all over the map to promote his incredible new feature film (which he directed and starred in—is there anything he can't do?!). I’ll admit, seeing everyone else posting their lucky photos and videos with him made me so incredibly envious. I was scrolling through my feed like, "I want to be there!"
But deep down, I stayed determined. Even when I went to New Jersey last summer and couldn't get quite close enough for him to recognize me, I didn't lose hope. I just knew in my soul that 2026 was going to be our year for a reunion.
You’re probably wondering: How on earth did I get that close?
It all started at the Toyota booth. I was just another face in the crowd until I chatted with a staff member who dropped a bombshell: Sung’s interview was starting in just 15 minutes! I sprinted to the stage, which was already packed. At first, I was stuck behind two people, twisting and turning just to get a glimpse of him. But then, like magic, they left early! I slipped right into the front row.
During the Q&A, I didn't just raise my hand—I waved like a maniac! I wanted him to see my "Han Lives" shirt and know I was there for him. Suddenly, his eyes met mine. His face lit up with a surprised, "I know you!" expression and the biggest smile. I gestured frantically: "It's me! I'm back!"
When the talk ended, security began escorting him to the staff room. I knew I had to be bold. I followed them, and as the guards tried to block me, I shouted his name. I told them, "He knows me! I just have a birthday gift for him!"
Then it happened. Sung looked back and told his team, "She's coming with us. She’s an old friend." I was actually walking right next to him! I told him, "Sung, you’re still so kind. You’re so famous now, and I’m just so proud of you. Thank you for this."
He turned to me and asked, "Did you come from DC today? You’re still living there, right?"
I told him I’d driven four hours and stayed with a friend in New Jersey. I even mentioned I was there last year at the track while he was filming. "Were you there?" he asked, sounding genuinely touched. "I wish I’d known!" It felt so good to finally tell him I’d been cheering him on from the sidelines all along.
Inside the staff room, I was the only "middle-aged Japanese fan" in a room full of busy professionals. I felt a bit shy and told them, "Sorry to interrupt your work!" They were so sweet—they even offered me water. I politely declined, saying, "I have my own bottle; I’m an environmentalist!" (Looking back, I probably sounded so weird, but I was just so nervous! lol).
Finally, I got to hand him my gift: an Ultraman figure! It’s a bit of a tradition now. I beamed as I told him, "Happy Birthday!"
Even though he was clearly exhausted, he insisted on grabbing a movie poster to sign a personal message for me. He even apologized that he didn't have a t-shirt to give me! When Sung mentioned he wished he could give me more, like a t-shirt, I just looked at him and said, "Don’t even worry about that! It’s not about the items. Just being able to talk to you like this and sit by your side means the world to me. You’ve already made me the luckiest person alive!"
He was so incredibly generous, though. Even with his busy schedule before the 4:00 PM meet-and-greet, he turned to his staff and said, "Can you bring her to the front of the line? You guys remember what she looks like, right? Let her skip to the front."
The staff didn't hesitate: "Of course!" I was floored. I just kept saying, "Thank you so much... thank you for everything."
However, as 4:00 PM approached and I saw the massive line of fans already forming, I had a change of heart. As much as I appreciated the offer, I just didn't feel right cutting in front of everyone and claiming that "VIP privilege." Sung and his team had already given me more than I ever deserved. After debating with myself for a while, I decided to head home early instead of going back. I felt a little guilty, but I know in my heart he’d understand. I’d already had my "best friend" moment!
Oh! And I have to tell you about the photo. One of the staff members offered to take a picture of us, but I politely said, "Actually, I like selfies!"
Sung immediately chimed in and told the guy, "She likes selfies." 🤳✨
In that moment, my heart melted. He remembered! He remembered how we’ve been taking selfies together for the past 20 years. It was another one of those "thank you for remembering me" moments that I will treasure forever.
Sung never fails to make me feel special. He isn't just a star; he is a truly wonderful soul. 2026 is off to the most incredible start!
The "Twin" Moment! 👯♂️
When we finally leaned in for that selfie, Sung looked at the screen and started laughing. "We look like twins!" he said.
And honestly? He wasn't wrong! There we were, both rocking matching red T-shirts and almost identical hairstyles. It was such a hilarious, "meant-to-be" moment.
But the "twin" thing goes even deeper—we are actually both 53 years old! I am so glad I managed to catch him now, just days before his birthday on April 8th. He’ll be turning 54, so for a little while, he’ll officially be the "older" twin until I catch up! 🎂
Giving him his Ultraman gift early and getting to share that laugh about our matching looks made this trip unforgettable. I walked away feeling like the luckiest "twin" in the world.
Happy early Birthday, Sung! Thank you for being the most down-to-earth star in the galaxy. 🌟
