“World stars” Rain and top figure skater Kim Yuna both command upwards of over 1 billion won (800 thousand USD) per CF in Korea, topping off as the highest paid commercial actors.

Second in line are Ko Hyun-jung, Lee Young-ae, Kim Tae-hee, Song Hye-kyo and Big Bang who receive anywhere from 800 to 900 million won (650 to 750 thousand USD) per CF. And finally, rounding out the top 3 groups, Han Yeh-seul, Yoon Eun-hye and Jo In-sung earn a respectable 600 to 700 million (450 to 550 thousand USD).

With these celebrities endorsing multiple brands, there isn’t much room for anyone else.

For a while now, one of the most bold and characteristic fashion hairstyles has been the mushroom cut.

Just like the fungus, the mushroom hairstyle has many different variations. They range anywhere from short and round (like a straw mushroom) to long and flowing (like a shiitake mushroom). Poofy, close-cropped, wavy, straight, you name it. It can look absolutely cute and cheek-pinchingly adorable; yet cut or worn wrongly, it can really look cheap and ruin the day and eye-sight of anyone who sees it (I saw one such monstrosity at Lotte World one time, it still gives me nightmares). It has made appearances on the streets of Korea worn by everyday people, to the small and big screen where it is subsequently shown-off on the domes of various celebrities.

Most recently it has made an appearance with cute actress Han Hyo-joo (top right) of Spring Waltz and Iljimae fame. She is back again in a new drama called “Shining Inheritance” featuring K-ballad crooner Lee Seung-ki. In this drama, Han Hyo-joo sports the famous, or rather infamous mushroom hair-style that is and has been the rage in Korea for quite some time. It seems like she took “mushroom” quite literally as her hair could be confused with a large toadstool if seen far away.

The mushroom hairstyle has been displayed on the heads of other famous K-celebs as well namely Suh In-young, (bottom left) Jessica (Girls Generation) (bottom right) Kang Min-kyung (the taller part of the singer duo Davichi – middle left), Tae Min (of SHINee- middle right), Micky Yoo-Chun (of Dong-bang-shin-ki – top, middle) MC Mong (insert monkey joke/comment here- bottom midde) and more recently beautiful actresses Song Hye-kyo (middle) and Ku Hye-sun (top left)in the dramas “The World That They Live In” and “Boys Before Flowers.” Popular even several years ago, it seems that the mushroom cap hair style refuses to die and continues to spore and grow on the heads of Korea’s youth and celebrities.

So, what are your thoughts on this style? First hand knowledge from mushroom-hair wearers and aficionados is most welcome.

What happened to Song Hye-kyo’s pale skin and crimson colored lips?

With her face and dress matching in tone, the actress attended the 2009 China Fashion Awards in Beijing on June 6^th.  What happened? Must be bad lighting?

And doesn’t she look fabulous?!

The perfectly defined red lips against the creamy white skin (no matter how photoshopped) is a gorgeous combination. Song Hye-kyo also does the mushroom hair proud too- unlike the other mushroom head.  The cover picture is for the June 2009 issue of fashion monthly, W Magazine (Korea).  And the rest of the pictures were taken in Miami, Florida.

Check it out:

No one is perfect. At least not Song Hye-kyo.

Although her pretty face might be enough to get her acting roles, the legs are obviously not good enough for the magazines. And how she got chosen to represent a leggy jeans brand “Levis”, we have no idea. Each time an ad is shot, her legs undergoes a photoshop treatment.

So if you have short stumps but a pretty face, rest assured that you can be a star too.

Song Hye-kyo is featured in the Levis ads in the May 2009 issue of Nylon Magazine (Korea)

The vampires are coming to Korea.

For the VIP screening for the new horror flick, “Thirst” (박쥐 2009′) on April 24th, a-listers showed up to support Song Kang-ho and Kim Ok-bin.  Directed by the famous Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, I’m a Cyborg), the story weaves a tale of a priest who turns into a vampire and falls in love with his friend’s wife.

“Thirst” (2009) flies into theaters on April 30th.

Official movie site: www.thirst-2009.co.kr

Watch the trailer:

Song Hye-kyo Rain

Jeon Do-yeon Lee Ji-ah

Won Bin

Kim Hye-soo Kim Min-sun

Lee Byung-hun

Kim Ok-bin

Song Kang-ho

Finally, a fashion show worth posting about.

Familiar faces donned on their best Prada outfits for the Prada Transformer show on April 23rd. Koh Ara, Sung Yuri, Song Hye-kyo, Kim Min-hee, Lee Seung-ki, Joo Ji-hoon, Oh Ji-ho , Chae Ye-ryun and Yoon Eun-hye were at hand to add some spice to the spotlight.

Check it out

Koh Ara keeps it  conservative in this simple strapless dress.

Sung Yuri has to show off the whole length of her leg in this super short black dress. A Korean stylist once mentioned that celebrities have to wear super short skirts in order to make their legs look longer….well does it?

Known for her short stumps, Song Hye-kyo’s bright red lipstick draws attention away from the fact that dress is unflattering length.

Kim Min-hee tries to hide the see-through lace panel by clutching her bag at the side, but we can see it.  A better choice than this.

Lee Seung-ki looks good in cream tones except for the messy mop top.

Joo Ji-hoon. What happened? Sure the look is simple with a crisp white shirt and dark jeans, but the hair?! Is he trying to grow it long?

Oh Ji-ho is an ajusshi tryint to stay cool but can’t with the mismatched white converse and shades of navy.  The look is not pulled together.

Cha Ye-ryun’s strapless number is ok but itself but the model/actress ruins the outfit with the dark green Prada clutch. Do celebrities get to choose their clothes? Or is there is a stylist who puts their outfits together?

Every time I turn on the television, Song Hye-kyo is trying to convince me to drink Haitai’s “Soonbak-cha” (White tea). The tea purportedly claims to whiten out your skin. Could that be true? If so, this is going to be a best seller even without her help.

Check out Song Hye-kyo in the “Soon-bak-cha” CF:

Known for her stumps, Song Hye-kyo digitally stretches out again for the new 2009 Spring ads for Levi’s Lady Style.  If the legs are that important to Levis, then why not get a real model that already has them? It would save the extra photoshopping costs.

The new Levis Lady Style ads featuring Song Hye-kyo will be out in mid March.

Known for short limbs, Song Hye-kyo stretches out for the Spring 2009 Levis Lady Style campaign.  And who said that long legs were a prerequisite for being a denim model?

What else would you call this look?

And yes, we know that Song Hye-kyo probably has no say in the choice of clothes she wears because she’s paid to be a model.  But dang, these clothes from ROEM should be stuffed in the back of a closet and left there- especially the striped stockings.  Who would buy these princess outfits?

Song Hye-kyo is better off just sticking to her cosmetics contracts.

Song Hye-kyo was spotted shopping at Laneige counters by paparazzi in Hong Kong. Coincidence? Strange that the actress had to actually shop for Laneige products since she is the model for the skincare line. Wouldn’t she just get the products that she needs sent up to her room? Sounds like a deliberate photo op.

The actress was in Hong Kong to promote the Youtube symphony.