Sandara Park brought Korean actor Jung Il-woo to Bohol in the Philippines and talked about love, flirting, hardships and their first trip together.
The two traveled to the country in the last episode of Sandara’s "Dara Tour" season 1 show on her YouTube channel Dara TV, which has 1.51 million subscribers.
Sandara and Jung Il-woo have been friends for 16 years, which started through the filming of the 2009 drama “The Return of Iljimae.”
Korean actor Jung Il-woo and Sandara Park on their flight to the Philippines (Instagram) 
Korean actor Jung Il-woo and Sandara Park in Bohol (Instagram) 
Sandara Park in Bohol (X)
Jung Il-woo putting a kalachuchi flower behind Sandara Park's ear (Screenshot from Dara TV video on YouTube)
Jung Il-woo teaching Sandara Park how to swim in Bohol (Screenshot from Dara TV video on YouTube)
Jung Il-woo was the main lead of the drama and Sandara made a special appearance.
The 36-year-old actor also starred in the dramas “Moon Embracing the Sun,” “Haechi,” “Cinderella with Four Knights” and “Good Job.”
“The Return of Iljimae” was the start of their friendship. The Bohol trip was also special for Jung Il-woo as it was his first ever visit to the Philippines.
“Didn’t expect to travel with a guy friend,” said Sandara as she met Jung Il-woo at Incheon International Airport for their flight to the Philippines.
He said, “I'm excited about my first trip to the Philippines and happy to be with Dara Tour.”
As they arrived at Bohol Panglao International Airport, a Filipino band was playing.
Sandara said she always feels Filipinos’ cheerful and positive attitude when she visits the country.
“I always feel it when I'm in the Philippines. ENFPs [extroverted, intuitive, feeling and perceiving] and their positive energy,” she said.
In 2021, Jung Il-woo cooked sinigang and kaldereta for Sandara on his YouTube channel, saying, “I also looked everywhere up for ‘the favorite Filipino menus of Dara.’”
In Bohol, Jung Il-woo said, “It's her first trip with a guy friend. Although she knows so many people she invited me so I was thankful.”
Sandara is three years older than Jung Il-woo but he speaks to her casually because they have been friends for so long.
During the filming of “The Return of Iljimae,” he said, “When I first saw her, I thought she was younger. She looked so young. And that was before 2NE1 even debuted. She guest-appeared in an episode and that's when we made a connection that has lasted to this day. Please don't misunderstand. We were really young when we became friends so I speak casually.”
She said during the filming of the drama, Jung Il-woo took care of her.
“I only had a small role. He never cared about that and took care of me. Even my staff. I was a trainee. Il-woo invited my manager and make-up staff. He treated us to such an expensive meal,” she remembered.
They took the Loboc River Cruise and had a sumptuous meal.
Love, flirting
After this, they went to the hotel and had drinks by the pool.
They had deep conversations about their friendship, love, flirting, careers and 2NE1.
Jung Il-woo gave Sandara a towel to cover her legs and was touched by the gesture.
“I've never been taken care of like this before,” she said.
He then picked a kalachuchi flower and put it behind her ear.
“You're prettier than a flower but,” he said.
The staff asked them how they flirt.
“I've known you for 16 years now. I don't think we've ever talked about dating,” he said.
About flirting, he said, “Instead of calling it a flirt, when I like someone, I just go straight for it.”
Sandara agreed, saying, “I also say it if I like someone and go straight. I hate playing hard to get.”
“Did you date a lot when you were younger?” she asked him and he replied, I can't say I didn't meet any girls. There was never any news about my relationships.”
When Sandara said, “I've never had any dating rumors either,” he said, “But I heard you had one.”
He was referring to actor Lee Joon who joined the Dara Tour in the Philippines.
“I never had a real rumor. I was barely in a relationship at all. You'd be fired for dating as a trainee. I didn't find that hard. Because I loved work more,” she said.
But now that she is pursuing her solo career, she said, “So I'm like now…I want to look for love. Bye, my 20s-30s.” Sandara is turning 40 on Nov. 12.
He said heartbreaking relationships make a person mature.
“I agree. So a heartbreaking love or if you meet a garbage, then you can select the good from the bad,” she said.
She added, “Anyway, as I've been in relationships and gotten hurt, my ideal type has changed.”
Sandara said she is now looking for “a nerd boy who only loves me. I think that's the best.”
“I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I've always been a workaholic and work gets done no matter what. But Sandara as a woman...I want to love,” she said.
About their careers, Jung Il-woo told her, “I admire us both for working hard in our positions.”
“Yeah, I think the hardest thing is to stay active for a long time. The longer you do it, the more people trust you,” said Dara.
“Now the only thing I want is to be a good actor,” he said.
For Sandara, she said, “I just want to enjoy together in the stage with my fans. And if I have one goal…being on stage with the girls [2NE1 members] again.”
In the previous episode of "Dara Tour," Sandara Park said she was so sad when she left the Philippines to go back to South Korea.
