Beckham Sports New Hairstyle

David Beckham (Manchester United), British football star and young-generation fashion icon, is having a new hairstyle. This time it is `hip-hop reggae perm.`

According to British press reports on May 19, Beckham, currently traveling South France with his wife Victoria, was seen having dinner at a restaurant with pop singer Elton John and actress Elizabeth Hulley wearing reggae perm.

Beckham had shaved his hair right before the World Cup Games last year. With the beginning of the games, however, he appeared in Japan with the so-called `chicken crest` style, and more recently was wearing a hair band.

The new hairstyle seems to have something to do with his love for rap music. He is known to enjoy listening to rap songs. He even named his two dogs after famous black rappers.

Hairdressers estimate that the new hairstyle must have cost him some 450 pounds, or 880,000 won, and at least four hours at the beauty parlor.

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com