Hundreds of fans were left disappointed as Korean actor Kim Soo-Hyun spent only 10 minutes at an event held in Hong Kong last April 23.

The My Love from the Star lead actor was supposed to meet 220 contestant winners who had waited hours outside the Mira Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, but the actor left the event earlier than many had hoped - a mere 10 minutes!

Though many were left disappointed, fans have generally concluded that Soo-Hyun's decision to cut short the Causeway Bay event was due to the current Korean ferry tragedy.

"I feel the meeting wasn't worth it. I won't follow him during the rest of the time when he's in Hong Kong because I can feel he's unhappy," Scottic Yung, 26, told the South China Morning Post after spending HK$400 worth of cosmetics to participate in the contest.

Some fans traveled from Shenzhen or took leave from work to meet the hugely popular celebrity.

"I'm not really into him but my daughter really loves him. We may wait all the way into evening until we see him, or my daughter's [work] leave will be wasted," said Lou Xinju, a mother of one of Soo-Hyun's fans.

In an earlier press conference, Soo-Hyun refused to take questions but expressed that he was overwhelmed by the support of the people since he last visited the city in 2011. He further added that he wanted to sample local cuisine and hoped to travel to the city before he heads back to South Korea.

The actor also canceled another press conference in Singapore scheduled on April 27. The event is part of the 2014 Kim Soo-Hyun Asia Tour 1^st Memories.

South Korea is a nation in mourning following the tragic ferry disaster. The ferry with 476 people on board sank off South Korea on 16 April. Since then rescue divers have recovered 183 bodies, but scores are still missing presumed drowned.