Joo-won's ugly duckling transformation in Fashion King

54 October 24, 2014May 18, 2016

Joo-won’s ugly duckling transformation in Fashion King

by girlfriday

I’m pretty sure this movie is going to be one big crock o’ crazy, but I’m planning to watch it for the visual shock alone. Will you get a load of Joo-won? It’s a little hard to adjust when I’m already so used to seeing him as a very poised classical music student in Cantabile Tomorrow, but the stills, posters, and teaser for his upcoming webtoon-to-movie adaptation Fashion King just get crazier and crazier, and I just can’t look away…

Joo-won stars in the high school comedy as the lowest kid on the social ladder — he’s the bread shuttle, aka the flunkie who gets sent to fetch snacks for the bullies on a daily basis. He’s hopelessly homely (PFFFFT, okie dokie) and an all-around loser who’s practically invisible unless people think to pick on him. Basically, high school is his hell.

But one day his eyes are opened to the world of fashion, and he begs fashion guru Kim Sung-oh (Records of a Night Watchman) to teach him how to be cool. Thus begins his ugly duckling transformation complete with dance calisthenics, and little by little, he starts to notice strange changes: The coolest boy in school, Ahn Jae-hyun (You’re All Surrounded), begins to think of him as competition, and the prettiest girl in school, Park Se-young (Feel-Good Day), actually starts to notice him. Meanwhile his shy nerdy counterpart, Sulli (To the Beautiful You), will be harboring a crush on him.

The trailer makes my day, with its super campy high school runway walk-offs and hilariously bizarre fashions. Of course a world in which high school hierarchy is determined by who has the best runway walk is ludicrous, but that’s the fun. And the best part is that the cast seems to be relishing the camp with zeal — the stills from the movie’s press conference with Joo-won, Ahn Jae-hyun, and Kim Sung-oh voguing down the red carpet had me rolling on the floor. I love them so, so much.

I was a little worried when I didn’t know what this movie would be, but now that I see how they’re embracing the absurd, I’m excited to see it. It has a sweet underdog story at its core too, and I trust Joo-won to get me in the heart when it counts. But who am I kidding, you had me at the Zoolander Goes to High School premise.

Fashion King hits theaters November 6.

Via TV Daily

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1 whilethemusiclasts

October 24, 2014 at 8:07 PM

I CAN'T WAIT.

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Eaglette

October 25, 2014 at 4:47 AM

But what's with that butt hanging out poses from almost all the boys? It's disturbing!

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Pollywood

October 25, 2014 at 7:17 AM

This is the most hilarious part! I think I will have to watch this! huge lol

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Dr. Hwata

October 25, 2014 at 7:35 AM

Disturbing? Maybe that's because it is not nearly comic as it was intended to be. Concept may have been good on paper, but execution went awry.

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Rovi

October 25, 2014 at 7:38 AM

That's the "style pose" from models on fashion magazines.

If you remember that episode from "You Who Came From The Stars" (the wedding on the cruise ship), Cheon Song-yi and her "friend" (Jae-gyeong's GF which he killed using prescription drug overdose) tried to one-up the other when it came to the wedding pictorials, pouting and gazing sultrily at the camera complete with batshit-crazy poses.

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missDVM

October 25, 2014 at 9:05 AM

Rovi- I agree. I had never *really* paid attention to the poses (you actually sort of get used to their odd poses, and THAT is actually a little disturbing! Ha!) until Cheon Song-yi and "friendnemies" started their absurd pose competition. I went back and flipped through some style magazines ESPECIALLY the wedding models, and HOLY. COW. The poses those poor women are in are not what any sane woman would (naturally) do.

For kicks and giggles, you should try a few of them. I know I did. I laughed so hard.

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Liang

October 25, 2014 at 9:36 AM

Gender reversal! Shows how ridiculous female models' poses are. It's a real life and mainstream Hawkeye Initiative

http://thehawkeyeinitiative.com/

I absolutely love they did that.

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Scarlett

October 26, 2014 at 5:03 PM

LOL! Thanks for the link! It's hilarious!

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2 Mawiie

October 24, 2014 at 8:07 PM

Oh my goodness! More than for Joo Won or Ahn Jae Hyun, I'd totally watch this just for Kim Sung-Oh! He totally rocks that look, no matter how ridiculous it is!

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museofmanymasks

October 24, 2014 at 8:12 PM

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Mama J

October 24, 2014 at 8:31 PM

I did say that I'd be happy to see Kim Sung Oh get rid of the blonde, but...

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spazmo

October 25, 2014 at 2:38 AM

are you talking about his sadam blonde character? he sorta rocked that role...

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news

October 24, 2014 at 8:44 PM

Kim Sung-Oh is such a chameleon.

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ThoseWhoKnowMe...

October 25, 2014 at 1:28 AM

Riiight. That guy is freaking handsome & good actor to boot.

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fab

October 25, 2014 at 7:07 AM

I was going to write the exact words! KSU is great in everything he does. Love em ever since Secret Garden. Can't believe he is 36.~

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3 lalala86

October 24, 2014 at 8:20 PM

this looks hysterical. it's the korean zoolander. can't wait.

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4 PinkSushi

October 24, 2014 at 8:25 PM

This looks absolutely fantastic! Can't wait to see it!

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5 lilone

October 24, 2014 at 8:32 PM

LMAO!!! Korean Zoolander is right. Version high school. Looking forward to it.

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6 rughydrangea

October 24, 2014 at 8:33 PM

This looks insane, but in the best way possible. (Also, how worried should I be that I've reached a stage where I look at stills of Joo Won in this film and my reaction is just, "Yeah, he's working it"?)

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7 news

October 24, 2014 at 8:42 PM

LOL the fashion poses at the movie's press conference!!! So out of control I love it.

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8 news

October 24, 2014 at 8:51 PM

But I almost just want Joo Won's character to stay geeky because he's extra cute and endearing that way. And I hope he picks his shy nerdy friend in the end instead of the popular cool girl.

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Gabby

October 25, 2014 at 4:27 PM

Considering Park Se-young is a superior actress to Sulli, and the fact that it's somewhat shameless to cast a girl as blatantly gorgeous as Sulli to be your nerdy "plain Jane"....AND the fact that, from the glimpses we've seen, it looks like her take on the "shy, nerdy" girl is going to be as cliched and sympathy-baiting as possible, I'm actually hoping for the opposite.

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meimei

October 25, 2014 at 6:06 PM

Totally agree with you. I was so happy with every casting choice, except for Sulli. Getting a girl whose known as a visual to play a nerdy, plain character was a bit ridiculous and extremely unrealistic. I've lived in Korea, and i hate to say it but the prettiest girl will always be the most popular. All they did to cover Sulli's beauty was to get her to put on some glasses. Definetly expecting her to be as cliche as possible, but she's also not talented enough as an actress to make me feel sympathy for her. Also hoping Joo won ends up with Se young, but i know that it wont happen.

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9 Mia

October 24, 2014 at 8:51 PM

I can't, I just can't . . . It's totally crazy. Must watch it!

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10 Abbie

October 24, 2014 at 9:04 PM

OMG! I have got to see this! It looks hilarious!

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11 momogi

October 24, 2014 at 9:09 PM

Muahahahaa
How cool is that if the casts feel no shy whatsoever to strut the red carpet as their movie counterpart
Ahn Jaehyun Opppaaaaaa

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12 fuzzymogwai

October 24, 2014 at 9:15 PM

i really enjoy this like, wot is this butt way back one leg bent one leg out pose they are all doing hahahaha

....ok definitely fell over attempting it.....

this looks hilarious =)

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13 SS

October 24, 2014 at 9:15 PM

Joo Won, how can you be so different in each project?

I just love an actor who doesn't care how he looks and dares try all sorts of roles. The fact that he pulls them off most of the time just makes him more awesome.

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sunandhearts

October 24, 2014 at 10:28 PM

+infinity

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An0ther

October 25, 2014 at 4:27 AM

+11111

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sue

October 25, 2014 at 12:53 PM

+infinity+1 (is that possible?)

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14 Pearl~ai88

October 24, 2014 at 9:50 PM

Yeah... no way Joo Won is anything but adorable. Nerdy yes, homely, no. Honestly it looks like a transformation from cute guy to cute guy in ridiculous clothes, lol. Oh well, it does look awesomely fun.

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15 Chandler

October 24, 2014 at 9:56 PM

I love the posters!!!!

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16 moonleaf

October 24, 2014 at 10:03 PM

I wish I can watch it when it premieres. Why am I not in South Korea? :(

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17 vanillasalt

October 24, 2014 at 10:05 PM

This looks absurd and hilarious! Can't wait to watch it haha!

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18 sfgirl

October 24, 2014 at 11:06 PM

I was in Seoul a couple of weeks ago and accidentally stumbled upon the promotional event for this at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (the two pictures just before the cast posters are from that event). What was interesting was the fan girl screaming. From that anyone would think Joo Won wasn't the lead but Ahn Jae-Hyun. Every time a question was asked of joo won, it was pretty silent, but the moment the host even took Ahn Jae-Hyun's name there was nothing but screaming. Ha!

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AWWW

October 24, 2014 at 11:30 PM

My friend who's a AJH fan told me many school girls were there. Probably Junior School age. They have been crazy about him since YWCFTS and literally screaming their heads off. This guy is really hot now thanks to the drama.

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19 SuziQ

October 24, 2014 at 11:30 PM

Totally funky!

Can't wait till I can see it. The posters are the bomb!

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20 Girl Hero

October 24, 2014 at 11:49 PM

Yay Sadam is back, and he is a fashion guru- i knew it!!! Joseon psychic shaman/sorcerer= today's fashion guru. And ahhh Joo Won...how can someone be so cute (= i want to pinch his cheeks and/or give him milk and cookies and give him teddy bear hugs), so charming (= i want to see him smile, listen to him talk, and/or stare into his lovely eyes) and so sexy (= Rowr to infinity) and so ... (=“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.” - J. Keats).

Sadaaam, the serpent god will rise!!!

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rinoak

October 25, 2014 at 7:29 AM

Haha! Yes, Sadam was on the cutting edge of fashion back then and he still is now. Maybe this time he won't do so much eye-rolling and soul-stealing though. (Kim Sung-Oh just really commits to any role, even if it is mind-numbingly crazy.) Gotta say, I'm really looking forward to this.

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21 nonski

October 24, 2014 at 11:59 PM

omg! the poster alone with joo won and the last one wants me to watch it ASAP

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22 Waiting

October 25, 2014 at 12:50 AM

Cannot wait!

This is by far my favorite teaser and my favorite stills.

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23 Requiem

October 25, 2014 at 1:22 AM

LOL, this looks awesome, but can we please stay away from the bowl cuts in the future, Joo Won?

I mean I know he had to do it for this movie, but it looks very similar in Cantabile Tomorrow :p....

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24 zsa

October 25, 2014 at 2:19 AM

I will be watching esp for park seyoung and that fashion guru...love them!

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25 revlow

October 25, 2014 at 3:05 AM

Oh, my god. How funny!

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26 Aedyna

October 25, 2014 at 6:57 AM

PWAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA OMG I'm so loving this!!!!!!!! I literally have tears in my eyes!!!!! Hahahahahh

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27 fab

October 25, 2014 at 7:42 AM

That's an awesome high school for the creative folk.

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28 missDVM

October 25, 2014 at 9:01 AM

Oh. My. Gerdness! Hahahahahaha!

As soon as I realized that this was SUPPOSED to be campy, (and that the actors completely embraced that!) I couldn't stop laughing as I watched the trailer. I loved it. Bring on the camp! Yay!

So ready for this light-hearted movie.

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29 Kokare

October 25, 2014 at 2:49 PM

I seriously cannot wait!!!!! I love Zoolander and I love the actors in this upcoming movie. Joo Won and everyone else. So cool!!!

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30 Gabby

October 25, 2014 at 4:28 PM

Who is that guy in the third-to-last poster? I can already tell he's going to be hilarious.

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31 Hipployta

October 25, 2014 at 4:45 PM

Kim Sung Oh looking awesome

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32 Sue

October 25, 2014 at 5:30 PM

Movies suck for international fans. We have to wait till it comes out on DVD and pray that it has subs. Otherwise we have to wait till some generous soul subs it. I hope I can see it soon!