Fridae

1. Rain (Korea)
The Korean craze continues unabated with the arrival of K-pop singer Rain who is also known as the Michael Jackson of Korea (talk about unfortunate comparisons). A former back-up singer and choreographer, Rain made his singing debut in 2002 with "Bad Boy" and his acting debut in Sang Doo! Let's Go To School.

Armed with impressive dancing skills not seen since the heydays of Aaron Kwok, the 23-year-old singer-actor became the first Asian to achieve MTV Grand Slam status by sweeping awards from Korea, China and Japan. He has since performed in Bangkok to appeal for aid for South Asian tsunami victims and held sold out concerts in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

In a recent magazine interview, the 1.83 metre tall hunk revealed that his ideal partner would be someone who looks good on first impression, is kind and has a great sense of style (in other words: ME). More importantly, Rain reveals that he works out for an hour every day and feels sexiest after an exercise session or a shower.

2. Carl Ng (Hong Kong)
The October issue of Men's Health Singapore enjoyed brisk sales when it featured a bare-chested Carl Ng on its cover, revealed the exact locations of his tattoos (one on his back and two on his right leg) and showcased the boxing fanatic doing sit-ups, push-ups and leg-raises.

The 29-year-old Hong Kong hunk grew up in London where he attended business school and acquired a crisp English accent that is simply to die for. Upon returning to Hong Kong, the son of comedian Richard Ng modelled for Motorola and Sony MiniDisc, acted in Yonfan's Colour Blossoms (2004) and currently fronts Bella Skin Care's men range.

During his stopover in Singapore, the actor-model appeared in more topless fashion spreads and during an interview, a lascivious male journalist was so besotted that he called Carl a "wet dream on muscular legs." More importantly, in another interview, it was revealed that Carl is separated from his Singaporean girlfriend (words fail to describe my joy)!

3. Tik-Jesadaporn Pholdee (Thailand)
It is hard to stand out in a movie when one's co-stars comprise mainly of loud flaming queens suffering from limp-wrist-gitis - but Thai hunk Tik-Jesadaporn Pholdee did just that as the homo-friendly straight guy Chai in camp-fests Iron Ladies (2000) and Iron Ladies II (2003).

With his fair complexion, puppy-dog eyes and toned bod, it is not surprising that the actor-model was voted "Sexiest Man In Thailand" in 2003 by Internet Durex Global Sex Survey and roped in by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to headline a TV ad encouraging Thais to travel within the country instead of going overseas for holidays.

However, the 28-year-old Thai superstar who starred in numerous commercials, soap operas and movies (including The Eye 2 (2004)) is not all brawn and no brains: he possesses a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. And if his achievements are not impressive enough, he can always be credited with single-handedly starting a fetish for chilli-red volley shorts.

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4. Hidetada Yamagishi (Japan)
If there has ever been a body that's scientifically engineered for mass hysteria from the chub chaser and Muscle Mary camps, that body has to belong to Japanese bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi. During off-peak season, Hide may resemble the adorable Stay Puff Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusers but come competition time, his body is transformed into a sculpted work of art.

The 32-year-old Tokyo resident turned professional in 2003 and recently made his debut at the 2005 Ironman Pro in Pasadena California. Dubbed the "Japanese Warrior," Hide won numerous bodybuilding competitions in Japan as well as the Light Middle Weight Category in the 2001 Asian Games in South Korea.

When not flexing his muscles onstage in the skimpiest of posing trunks and causing heart seizures when his trunks ride up his rock-hard butt cheeks, the Gold's Gym personal trainer and fitness consultant enjoys traveling and working on his tree-trunks-sized calves by doing squats (Let me spot for you!).

5. Patrick Lee (Taiwan)
This Taiwanese import is making gay men go buck wild in his latest fashion spread in VMan magazine which features the boyish-looking actor-model tugging his swimming trunks down to reveal his cute butt crack as well as a well-maintained pubic tuft (all together now: swoon!).

The 26-year-old goodlooker (those chubby cheeks are so adorable!) with the killer bod first joined a talent agency during his university days. Since graduating with a degree in fashion, he has appeared in ads for McDonald's and Mastercard, magazines such as Men's Uno and GQ, and a number of TV serials where he was repeatedly cast in goody-two-shoes roles.

In a magazine interview, the 1.78 metre tall Scorpio revealed that he loves cutting edge fashion and his mongrel "Mao Mao" (translated: "Hairy Hairy"), has a tattoo on his right forearm with the words "Proud To Be," enjoys swimming and working out, and is least satisfied with his skinny calves (chicken legs alert!).

6. Ji Jin Hee (Korea)
Aptly conferred the title of "obasan-killer" (aka "aunty-killer"), Ji Jin Hee is, in my opinion, the most desirable Korean male - after Kwon Sang Woo of course. An actor in numerous TV dramas and movies, the single-eye-lidded Jin Hee only found fame as Jang Geum's chivalrous court officer boyfriend in the popular K-drama Jewel In The Palace.

Despite having to put on a faux moustache and beard, tie up his hair in a topknot and wear a hat that resembles an inverted steamboat for the period drama, Jin Hee still managed to ooze sex appeal with his dignified good looks and quiet machismo. In his free time, the Korean heartthrob enjoys photography, paragliding, basketball, charity work and plays with an amateur baseball team named "Playboys."

According to entertainment reports, Jin Hee has also acquired a reputation for being filial (he stays with his parents!) and generally for being a nice guy both onscreen and off screen. In fact, the Perhaps Love actor would be the perfect manpanion for many gay men if not for the fact that Jin Hee is married and the proud father of a baby boy - that is unless you're into married daddies.

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7. Peter Corp Dyrendal (Thailand)
For gay men who just lurve the Pan Asian look, there's no better male specimen than Thai pop prince Peter Corp Dyrendal. Born of Thai-Danish parents, Peter released his first album in 1998 which features the unfortunate sounding "Chao Tui Yoo Nai" ("Where Are The Buffaloes?") as the first single.

Best known for his bedroom voice, Peter won over the Thais with a string of pop rock albums and even received a nomination for Best Thai Artiste for MTV Asia Awards 2003.
Since his debut, the 29-year-old looker has continuously reinvented himself from tattooed bad boy with long Fabio-type locks to clean cut boy-next-door with short-cropped hair and back again.

While having a mouth the size of Julia Roberts' may be disconcerting to some (see covers of Magic Peter (1999), Version 4.0 (2002) and Romantic Peter (2003) for proof), Peter continues to hog the covers of many a Thai magazine and more recently, sets many hearts a-fluttering when he appeared topless in an advertisement for Synda (Sleeping Care).

8. Mark Chay (Singapore)
The perennial favourite of gay men who haunt swimming pools, the 23-year-old national swimmer is arguably Singapore's sexiest swimmer - despite having a head the size of a ping-pong ball. In fact, the two-time Olympian's appearance in a 2002 edition of Men's Folio in all his chubby glory generated unprecedented waves of sexcitement for local chub chasers.

A Southeast Asian Games veteran with numerous swimming medals to his name, Mark recently won another two gold medals in the 2005 SEA Games team events and was awarded Sportsboy of the Year in 2000 and Sportsman of the Year in 2001. He is currently studying at Brigham Young University after completing his national service with the Republic of Singapore Navy (swoon!).

When not eliciting screams from desperate pubescent girls (and shameless gay men such as myself) with his appearance at swimming meets, the well-mannered waterbaby induces fainting spells amongst his fans by performing onstage with the Swim Shadys - a band comprising a quartet of Singaporean national swimmers.

9. Shawn Yue (Hong Kong)
Gay men who dreamed of being plucked off the streets to become the next Kate Moss should be able to identify with Shawn Yue. The other bad boy in the Hong Kong entertainment industry, Shawn was talent-spotted on the streets of Hong Kong by agents of famous modeling agency Starz People.

After a number of decorative roles in rom-coms, Shawn rose to fame playing the younger (and much cuter) Tony Leung in Infernal Affairs I and II. The 24-year-old spokesperson for Shiseido Pureness and Coca-Cola China has since modeled for Giordano, Sony, Timberland etc. and recently released a new album Whether Or Not where he appeared on the cover wearing a soaked through singlet.

Unlike his adversary Edison Chen who was caught flaunting his family jewels online, Shawn adopted a more "tasteful" approach by releasing a pictorial book (which still caused a ruckus with its Nazi-influenced stylings) and appearing in a fashion spread in Taiwan Vogue which not only showcased his chiseled looks but his bouquet of pubic hair (time for a trim!).

10. Liu Xiang (China)
When 22-year-old Liu Xiang won the 110-metres hurdles at the Athens Olympics, many a pair of homosexual eyes were less fixated on the record-tying time of 12.91 seconds than the sight of the Chinese athlete clearing every hurdle propelled by his stallion-like legs - and of course, his bobbing bulge and peek-a-boo running shorts.

The Shanghai native with the chiseled jaw is the current darling of the Chinese sports scene after he became China's first ever male athlete to win an Olympic sprint event. In addition to winning numerous sports medals, the 1.89 metre tall Liu Xiang was conferred Male Athlete of the Year in 2003 and featured in China's Top Ten Young People of 2004.

In a recent news report, the spokesperson for Coca-Cola and Nike made many an over-imaginative fan blush when he said: "Before I won the Olympic championship only a few journalists followed me around, now I feel like I have been stripped naked and surrounded" (Oh Liu Xiang! You put such naughty thoughts in my mind!).