$2,000 for Korean hunk's cardboard body

JUST eight months ago, one was auctioned off for $6,686, another for $6,500.

They are not luxury handbags or diamond jewellery, but life-size cardboard standees of Korean heart-throb Kim Hyun Joong.

His fans had gone into a bidding frenzy last December when the items were put up for auction.

Proceeds went to international charity World Vision to help children suffering from Aids.

Yesterday, another Kim standee went under the hammer.

This time, though, response from the close to 2,000 fans was muted.

Most of them were more interested in snapping photos of the star.

The auction opened at $150 and closed at $2,000 after a mere five bids.

The money raised will go to One Life Fund, started by World Vision Singapore to provide education bursaries to young people here who have HIV or whose parents are HIV-positive.

Despite the weak bidding, the singer-actor, who is in town as the brand ambassador of beauty label The Face Shop, was surprised at the amounts offered.