SHE first rose to fame as one of the prettiest girls in cyberspace.

TV scouts soon came knocking, and Koo Hye Seon has since become one of the hottest new stars in Korea.

You may know her as the cute but bumbling protagonist in the family drama Hearts Of 19, which is showing on Channel U.

Hye Seon, 24, is also known in Korea for her period dramas King And I and Mighty Chil Woo.

Deemed a favourite with advertisers, she was ranked No 1 in a recent survey as the product spokesman who's most able to "arouse customer's appetite".

Next step? She is slated to conquer Asia by playing the female lead in the highly-anticipated Korean version of hugely popular Japanese manga-adapted idol drama Meteor Garden.

Hers is the coveted role popularised by Taiwan's Barbie Hsu and Japan's Mao Inoue ? feisty girl Tsukushi Makino, who boldly challenges four handsome bullies known as F4 and wins the heart of their hot-tempered leader Tsukasa Domyouji.

Filming will begin later this month.

More than just a pretty face, Hye Seon is also an award-winning artist who gave up her art studies for her TV career in 2005.

Fans have raved about the oil paintings and sketches she often posted on her personal homepage.

She also sings like a pro and has directed her own horror film about euthanasia.

She told Ceci magazine: "I have so many dreams in my mind.

Sometimes I feel like travelling with my paintbrush... but I also hope to continue my work in showbiz. Whatever it is, I should devote all my energy to fulfilling my dreams."

YUMMY FACTOR: 4 out of 5

This article was first published in The New Paper on Oct 16, 2008.