While news is quiet of the 200 Pound Beauty sequel, plans are under way for a musical version, starring SES lead singer Bada. (The film sequel will be losing the sleeper hit’s original plastic-beauty Hana, star Kim Ah-joong, who opted not to return to the franchise in favor of other projects now that she’s catapulted to stardom.)

This musical version will be the follow-up stage role to Bada’s previous theatrical turn as Esmerelda in Notre Dame de Paris, for which she received favorable reviews. She’ll share the double-cast role of Hana with musical actress Yoon Gong-joo (really, Yoon parents? You named your kid “Princess”?). The male lead role, originated by Joo Jin-mo in the movie, is yet to be cast.

The musical version of 200 Pound Beauty will begin its theatrical run on November 27.

Via My Daily

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Bada donates a kiss in the name of the “Love’s Magic Kiss Relay” campaign on August 10 in Seoul’s Myungdong district.

The campaign features 11 female stars (also Hyori, Seo In-young, Sohn Tae-young, Solbi, Hwangbo, Shin Bong-seon, Wang Bit-na, Ahn Hye-kyung, Ha Yumi, Choi Eun-kyung) donating their lipstick kisses (made on Scotch magic tape) to raise money for disaster recovery of the Taean region following the oil spill last year.

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Singer Bada carries the Olympic torch through Seoul, surrounded by plainclothes policemen, April 27. On a shallow note, she looks fantastic.

(Unfortunately, the event was not without controversy.)

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• Actor-singer Lee Seung Gi broke a finger on the 23rd while filming his segment for the popular Happy Sunday variety program, and underwent surgery. Although he doesn’t think the injury is overly serious, he’ll most likely have stop his broadcast activities for the immediate future. Aw.
• Actress and former Baby VOX popstarlet Yoon Eun Hye is singing for the first time in a long while since she left pop music to transition into a successful acting career. She lends her vocals to “I Love You,” the debut single for new rap duo Mighty Mouth (oops, not Mighty Mouse like I thought, which woulda been kinda more awesome) — but insists this does not indicate a return to her singer status.



• After the recent massive oil spill, reports of local residents going so far as to commit suicide because of their troubles have reached a sympathetic Bada, who was moved by the people’s plight and is putting together a charity concert in the name of reviving the local economy of Mallipo Beach in western Korea.
• Seems like Rain is in the news constantly for one reason or another — and now it’s because apparently the Chinese netizens are angry again. First it was over his participation in singing Samsung’s Olympics theme song — ’cause you know, the only people allowed to sing at any particular Olympics are the citizens of the country hosting it. Now they’re calling him “arrogant” because he turned down Chinese Olympics ambassador (and gold-medalist gymnast) Liu Xuan’s request for a song at an Olympics promotion press conference due to time constraints; they’re saying, “Liu Xuan was dishonored internationally” and “How long would it have taken to sing a few lines?” and “Koreans are impatient and give no leeway so they really seem rude often.” Ahh, nothing like the Olympics to foster discontent. Whatever happened to international harmony, fraternity, and the symbolic Olympic rings?



• It’s common knowledge that actresses Han Ji Hye and Han Ye Seul are good friends — but who knew they’re also too good to mingle with the masses? Apparently the two go out clubbing — no drinks, just dancing — twice a year: once on each of their birthdays. Actor Lee Chun Hee recalled on a soon-to-air episode of Sang Sang Plus seeing the two at a club before they were famous, dancing together and ignoring any male attempts to approach them. Asked why, Han Ji Hye said that before their debuts, it was because “we had pride.” Afterward, it was because “we knew we were going to be actresses so we decided not to party with anyone else, just dance with the two of us.” Hm, I’m trying to figure out a way to interpret her answer as anything but bratty and stuck-up. Someone tell her pride and ego are different things.

SONG OF THE DAY

Bada - “Destiny” [ zShare download ]

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• SES lead singer Bada gave a performance as lead character Esmerelda in the musical Notre Dame de Paris on the 26th to positive reviews, particularly in the dance segments. Guess all that pop-star training came in handy.
• Ha Jiwon takes on a role as a pianist in the film co-starring Cha Tae Hyun (My Sassy Girl) and Park Hee Soon (badass Baek Min-chul in Mixed-up Investigative Agency), which is titled Fool. The movie’s written by the screenwriter of The Host 2, also an internet manhwa writer of the original work the film is based upon, and is a “warm, genuine” story about a simple-minded neighborhood character, no doubt the titular “fool.” I’m guessing Cha Tae Hyun’s the dummy? (Will he ever play someone who isn’t?)
• Actress Lee Bo Young (who’s doing press for her latest film, Once Upon a Time) admits that she’d attempted to be a news announcer, and even took the MBC announcers’ test in 2002, which she failed. Well, at least she’s pretty.
• Speaking of pretty, actress and former pop singer Chae Jung Ahn has signed on as the exclusive brand model for women’s fashion line ab.plus by ab.f.z (yeah, try pronouncing that) for the next year. A rep for ab.plus explained contracting Chae for her “refined” and “mature” image, a side we definitely saw in Coffee Prince.
• Ten years after her debut, singer Lena Park, also known by her Korean name Park Jung Hyun, gives a five-day series of concerts starting March 26, wrapping up her promo activities for her sixth album, “Come to Where I Am.”

SONG OF THE DAY

Lena Park, aka Park Jung Hyun - “눈물빛 글씨” (Tear-colored writing), her big single off her sixth album. [ zShare download ]

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Speaking of SES, the ladies of the pop group are in the news again. Or at least two of them are.

Eugene and Shoo (wither Bada?) have just opened their new website selling their brand at the “SES Mall” (www.sesmall.co.kr), and have named their new fashion line SHB — which stands for “SES Happy Brand.”

This isn’t the first time actors and pop stars are branching out into fashion — singer-actress Uhm Jung Hwa capitalized on her sultry sex-kitten image with a lingerie line, actress Lee Hye Young has her own fashion brand (”Missing Dorothy,” sold via home shopping), as do actresses Lee Seung Yeon (the “About Elle” line), Hwang Shin Hye, Byun Jung Soo, and others.

But Eugene and Shoo are attempting to set themselves apart from the other stars-slash-fashion-brands by having their own styles directly infused into their line, incorporating Shoo’s “cute and lovable” and Eugene’s “feminine, soft” styles. (Apparently Bada’s absence is explained because of her contract with a different line, which prevents her participation.)

Congrats to them, but what’s with every star these days wanting to be a mogul in every possible avenue available to them, rather than focusing on one or two things at which they actually excel? Next thing you know they’ll all be peddling novelty edible cosmetics, or random perfumes with terrible juvenile names.

Take a look at the ladies modeling their line after the jump.

SONG OF THE DAY

SES - “Just a Feeling” (remix version). This song reminds me of mid-career Mariah Carey, kind of. You know, the “Emotions” and “Fantasy” days. [ zShare download ]

Take a look at some of the fashions being sold >>

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