Tony An goes on blind date with Chinese actress Ling Yu: ‘You’re stunning’
A scene from "My Little Old Boy" / Captured from SBS
K-pop veteran Tony An was recently featured on a blind date with a Chinese actress, revealing both nerves and charm during the encounter broadcast on national television.
On the May 4 episode of SBS’s variety show “My Little Old Boy,” the 48-year-old entertainer was seen getting ready for a blind date with none other than Chinese actress Ling Yu.
Behind the wheel, Tony appeared more excited than usual. A bouquet of roses sat in the passenger seat, adding to the atmosphere of anticipation. He then called his friend and newlywed Kim Jong-min, asking if everything was going smoothly after his recent wedding. “Almost done wrapping things up,” Kim replied.
Surprising Kim — and viewers — Tony said, “Honestly, I thought I’d get married before you,” before confessing, “I’m actually going on a blind date today.”
Scenes from "My Little Old Boy" / Captured from SBS
Tony explained that the opportunity came through an acquaintance he knew from his work in China. “The person isn’t Korean. She’s Chinese,” he said, adding, “Thankfully, it seems like she can speak a bit of Korean.”
Turning to his friend for advice, Tony said, “I may be your senior in the entertainment industry, but when it comes to dating, you’re the senior.” Kim responded, “Whether it’s Korea or China, the most important thing in conversation is showing a reaction. Let her know that you're genuinely interested.”
Scenes from "My Little Old Boy" / Captured from SBS
Tony chose a restaurant with a sweeping view of Namsan for the date and admitted, “I’m more nervous than I am before going on stage.” When his stunning date Ling Yu appeared, Tony’s mother, watching through the studio VCR, beamed and said, “She even has a lovely smile.”
Tony began the date by asking, “How long have you been in Korea?” to which Ling Yu replied, “I arrived yesterday. There’s only a one-hour time difference, so I’m fine.”
Wanting to make an impression, Tony used a Chinese phrase he had practiced: “You’re breathtakingly beautiful.” Ling Yu introduced herself as both a model and an actress, saying, “I work as a supermodel and also do action films.”
It turned out that this wasn’t their first meeting. Ling Yu recalled, “We met in Beijing in December 2015. We were active in China around the same time and had a mutual friend, so we had a meal and a little bit to drink together.”
This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.