Kim Heechul, resident oddball of boy band Super Junior, is probably more known for his singer status, but he’s done a bit of acting in multiple television series. They include the heartwarming comic family drama Bad Family, last year’s Golden Bride, and his latest project, SBS’s new I Love You Ten Million Times, which stars Ryu Jin, Lee Soo-kyung, and Jung Kyeo-woon.

“I act, but Suju is my eternal home”

“Because of the popularity, at one time I wanted to drop out of Super Junior, but now it’s an important name, one I couldn’t shake off if I tried.”

This is Kim Heechul, whose name became known through the popular idol group Super Junior. But if you take a look, his debut project was actually KBS 2TV’s 2005 Sharp 2 [반올림2], which means that the label “singer-turned-actor” is not accurate to describe him.

Therefore, Kim Heechul’s return to television in the new SBS weekend drama Love You Ten Million Times [천만번 사랑해] isn’t a deviation from his course but actually a return to his original profession. He makes his return a year and seven months after his last television role, the SBS drama Golden Bride [황금신부], which wrapped its broadcast run on February 3, 2008.

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Well, I suppose it isn’t totally out of line, considering that Lee Yeon-hee, who is managed by SM Entertainment, was almost in Girls Generation back in her training days. But I admit I tire of singers crossing over as actors with mediocre acting skills, as well as the reverse, actors crossing over into kpop with middling singing talent.

In any case, the East of Eden actress will feature her vocals on Super Junior’s upcoming third album, having lent her voice to the song “Club No. 1.” The album is also drawing notice for featuring DBSK’s U-know Yunho and Micky Yoochun, who will rap on the song “이별… 넌 쉽니 (Heartquake).” (What, with 13 members — or is it 14 now? — is Suju finding it difficult to fill out their songs with their own talent?)

Super Junior will kick off their comeback with an appearance on KBS’s Music Bank on March 13.

Via Herald Biz

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Um, kinda.

Cable channel Mnet premiered its new show on October 25, Band of Brothers, in which Super Junior members Kang-in and Hee-chul, and Trax boys Jay and Jung-mo, decided to come together Beatles-style.

First, they adopted the early-Beatles look with the straight-cut hair and the black suits, with Hee-chul channeling Ringo Starr behind the drums, Kang-in as Paul McCartney, Jay as John Lennon, and Jung-mo as George Harrison. (Anyone else wincing at the travesty?) As part of the project, they sang some Beatles tunes and even shot a music video.

I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but I don’t think they actually “got” what it means to become the Beatles other than dressing in a costume and singing along like a cover band. (See in the clip below. I think it’s part cute, and part cringingly embarrassing.)

Aside from the Beatles aspect, though, it’s usually a lot more fun watching these idol boys in reality projects rather than, say, performing onstage. I suppose that’s why the kpop machine is built around the cult of personality much more than musicality.

Via Sports Khan

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A lot of famous faces showed up to the 3rd “Love Your W” Breast Cancer Fund-raising Party on October 23rd, held at the Villa de Bailey in Seoul’s Kangnam district.

By the way, the “love your W,” as nonsensical as it sounds, refers to loving thy bosom. One guess as to what the W indicates. (Honestly, don’t Koreans find that kind of thing the least bit vulgar?)

But onward to the stars (and the colorful clothes!).

More star fashions >>

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Super Junior members Heechul and Kangin are taking the lead roles in the camp musical classic Xanadu (“We are in Xanaduuu~!”) in their musical-theater debuts. They put on a performance at the press rehearsal (i.e., dress rehearsal open to press) on September 8 with the rest of their castmates.

However, audiences won’t be seeing both Suju-ers onstage at the same time, because they’ve been cast in the same lead role playing artist “Sonny” who falls for the beautiful roller-skating “Kira” (they’ll alternate performances). They’ve been rehearsing their singing, dancing, and roller-skating (natch!) skills for the past two months.

Xanadu marks the first musical production put on by SM Art Company (expanding its brand?), and was first produced as a musical film starring Olivia Newton-John in the ’80s. (Now known as a prime exercise in faux-futuristic camp, the film was initially a bomb before it became a cult classic.)

For the curious, check out a number from the original 1980 film starring Olivia Newton-John:

The musical opens on September 9 at the Doosan Art Center.

More XANADU pics >>

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