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To many, the name F4 holds a lot of memories. Consisting of Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, Ken Chu, and Vic Chou, the Taiwanese boy group formed from the fictional group of the same name in Meteor Garden served as an introduction to idol culture and Asian dramas for countless fans. Even after 25 years since the original series aired, the group and its members are still loved by many, as evidenced by F4’s well-attended reunion concert at the Philippine Arena on June 27. Times may change, but F4’s impact stays the same.
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The Groundbreaking Legacy of F4
When it comes to Asian dramas, few have as much impact on the genre as Meteor Garden had. An adaptation of the Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango, the series followed four handsome and popular college students, Dao Ming Si, Hua Ze Lei, Mei Zuo, and Xi Men, as Ming Si meets and develops feelings for Shan Cai (played by the late Barbie Hsu). The name F4 comes from the boys’ nickname of Flower Four, which was attributed to their charming appearance. It didn’t take long for the series to capture audiences’ attention, especially in Asia, as one of the first shows to capitalize on the rich boy meets poor girl archetype.
It turned the four male actors and its lead actress into breakout stars as the series quickly became a cultural sensation, especially in the Philippines. The show became must-see television after ABS-CBN began airing it in 2003, with many catching each new episode after school, as Yan, Wu, Chu, Chou, and Hsu formed sizable followings in the country. When the actors flew to the country for visits and performances in the ensuing decade, crowds of fans flocked to wherever they went. This was also before the era of social media, so fans latched onto any opportunity they could to see them. They were the superstars of the time.
Soon after the show’s airing, the four lead stars formed a boy band in real life when they signed with Sony Music Taiwan in 2001. They capitalized on the series’ popularity with the release of their debut album, Meteor Rain. Two more albums followed, including their final album in 2007, Waiting for You, as the members eventually went their separate ways.
Still, F4 fever thoroughly swept through Asia, with its impact felt to this day. The series inspired a handful of adaptations, most of which have gone on to be hits themselves. There was South Korea’s take in 2009 with Boys Over Flowers that starred Koo Hye-sun and Lee Min-ho, and, more recently, a Thai adaptation in 2021 titled F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers featuring Thai superstars such as Bright and Win.
F4 Reunites to the Excitement of Their Fans, Past and Present
The members of F4 have reunited over the years. But what got their longtime fans into overdrive was when they announced a 25th anniversary reunion concert tour titled F Forever 1st World Tour in 2025. Three out of the four original members, Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, and Vanness Wu, participated in the tour, while Ken Chu didn’t join due to contract disputes with the group’s label, B’in Music. In his place was Ashin, the frontman of Taiwanese rock band Mayday, who also had a role behind the scenes as one of the tour’s main producers.
Kicking off in Shanghai, China, the reunion tour made its way around Asia and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, for a stop at the Philippine Arena on June 27. Over 20,000 concertgoers, both longtime fans who were there in the early 2000s and new fans who discovered the group in the streaming era, made their way to the venue to watch F4 make their long-awaited return to the country after 20 years. It was a full-on production and spectacle as F4 treated their Filipino fans to their hits through a variety of group and solo stages in a concert that lasted over three hours.
The fans’ enthusiastic response proved that the love for F4 is still there for many Filipinos. While nostalgia and looking back to the past have been popular lately, F4’s continued success has to do with a lot more than just a throwback to when Meteor Garden took over the pop culture zeitgeist. For many, F4 is their first group they became a fan of, first idol crush, and first public figure they followed. From the show to their work as a boy group, F4 holds a lot of fond memories for fans who have been there since the beginning.
It’s not often that the group embarks on activities these days, so when the tour came to the Philippines, it was a time for Filipino fans to have not just a reunion for those who grew up watching the show and following the stars, but also to relive a special time of their lives and celebrate what makes F4 so memorable across generations.
In the same way K-pop groups of today formed a special bond with fans, so too has F4, as an act that defined the adolescent years of so many millennials. It’s been more than two decades since F4’s debut, and their legacy is undeniable. You could say they are the OG Asian boy group, long before K-pop took over the charts. It also speaks to how the boy bands of the late 90s and early 2000s remain timeless in their own way.
They may not be as active as they once were, but their pop culture impact remains. Just look at *NSYNC and how they are going viral on TikTok for their song I Want You Back, two years after their track Bye Bye Bye exploded in popularity after being included in the opening sequence of Deadpool & Wolverine. In a more contemporary example, BTS, who celebrated their 13th anniversary this year, is currently on a sold-out world tour and dropped a successful comeback album after years away to fulfill their military duties. No matter the era, boy groups will have a special place in culture and in the hearts of many.
Featured Image and Photos: B’IN MUSIC (via Instagram)
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