As (repeatedly) promised, Rain has begun launching his Korean comeback in earnest, and November’s a busy magazine month for the star, who’s gracing not one but two fashion covers. He shot spreads for the November issues of Esquire (above) and Harper’s Bazaar (below).

With his fifth album — the awkwardly titled “Rainism” — just released on October 15, I foresee lots more Rain news in the making in the coming months. (Raise your hand if you already have Rain fatigue.) On the upside, I’m more than ready to have the focus of Rain-related news revert back to his bread-n-butter: music. ‘Cause that’s the whole reason I ever liked the guy in the first place, and I’ve missed that side of him in the past couple years.

Via Newsen, and Newsen again

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The October issue of fashion mag An An features a spread with rising star Kim Bum, displaying how nicely he’s continuing to grow into adulthood.

The 19-year-old actor sure is a hot commodity right now — after surprising everyone with his grown-up intensity in East of Eden, he again got people excited with his casting in the Korean Hana Yori Dango, which kicks off in December.

Not only is he attracting more notice domestically, but he’s even making forays into overseas recognition: Kim Bum has a fanmeeting scheduled in Japan, to take place on October 18.

Via Newsen

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Nam Sang-mi, who recently wrapped her latest drama Gourmet, departs from her usual innocent image and goes a little sexier for the October issue of Ecole Luxe magazine.

The photo spread takes the title “Prim, Punk Girl, Sexy Star… Nam Sang-mi is Free.” (Um, okay.) The new photos show off her “chameleon-like” ability to take on a variety of differing looks based on makeup styling over the eight-page spread. (I think she looks gorgeous, but whoever styled the shoot failed miserably at realizing “prim” and “punk.” Or at least they did if that bowler hat is what qualifies as punk, and Flashdance-era sweatshirts paired with lace leggings = prim.)

After finishing the lengthy filming process for Gourmet (the drama filmed for approximately a year, having started far in advance of its broadcast date), Nam Sang-mi plans to spend some time resting and recharging before getting back to her busy schedule.

Via Sports Chosun

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With their wedding set for this weekend, Kwon Sang-woo and Sohn Tae-yong are really ramping up the publicity, aren’t they?

Following announcements of Sohn’s new makeup business venture, now we have news of Kwon Sang-woo readying to pose for a photo book called “theNUDE” (note: photo above is not from this shoot), to be distributed by the company Darr & Co.

The photo collection will be sold in Japan in October, and was shot in the spring. Contrary to its title and to rumors that circulated earlier this year, “theNUDE” boasts Kwon shirtless, not nude. Ha, like that’s something we’ve never seen before. Show me something new, and then we’ll talk.

Via Newsen

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(Yeah I know, it should more accurately be numéro un, but that’s just not as funny.)

Actor Kang Dong-won took some time away from his busy film schedule to show off his fashion sense in October’s Numéro Homme Korea magazine. (His last film was 2007’s much-lauded M; his latest, Jeon Woo-chi, co-stars Im Soo-jung and is set for a 2009 release.)

The special edition of the magazine features a couple other “male fashionistas”: actor Cha Seung-won (Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth) and Big Bang-er G-Dragon.

Apparently Kang Dong-wan calls the concept he’d prepared for the shoot a “sport bohemian” look. Um…. yeah. Cha Seung-won’s pose is supposedly “dynamic” and his styling “hard-boiled.” G-Dragon sports “bold makeup” and plays with both masculine and feminine characteristics (its suicide boyz, y’all!). I think I have a different term for all three: “femme glam.”

Via Newsen

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