Korean pop star on 'Billboard' cover

Back in town Rain brings us up to speed

To say that Rain has come a long way from his humble beginnings as a dancer for ex-producer Park Jin-young would be a gross understatement. With two Wachowski Brothers' films under his belt -- one of which is slated for release next year -- and a...

Wonder Girls to Hold a Solo Concert

Korea’s hottest female group Wonder Girls will hold their first solo concert. This will be the first solo concert given by a female idol group since 2000. An official with JYP Entertainment announced that the five-member group will perform in a...

Rain Tests His Own Boundaries

One of the busiest stars in the local entertainment business would be none other than singer and actor Rain. The 27-year-old star has a new album out, is waiting for the release of his recently finished Hollywood film ``Ninja Assassin'' and is appe...

Song Hye-kyo Returns to Small Screen

Korean dramas are full of entertainment, with cliched yet dramatic plots, cute and handsome male characters, both main and supporting, and always a young pretty heroine. Among these heroines is Song Hye-kyo, 26, who will appear in the new drama...

Rain Finally Unveiled in Asia

Korean pop sensation Rain has officially returned to Asian fans. The 26-year-old singer was not only back home, but better than ever. At his show, held at MBC Dreamcenter in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, fans from Japan, Taiwan, China and Korea wh...

Superstar Rain Returns

World star Rain kicked off his singing career in Korea after a 2-year hiatus by appearing late Thursday for the filming of his comeback special. After he released his fourth album in 2006, he has concentrated on his acting career, appearing in the ...

It Will Be 'Rain'ing Again in Korea

Korean pop star Rain is returning to the local music scene for the first time in two years. The 26-year-old singer will release his new album ``Rainism,'' hold a showcase and also appear in a two-day special program on MBC this and next Friday. ...

J.Tune Entertainment's Fashion Line to Incorporate Paul Klee's Works

Rain's management agency J.Tune Entertainment, which recently declared its intent to expand into the fashion business, will incorporate works by Swiss artist Paul Klee into its fashion brand "Six to Five." The agency recently announced that it s...

[TALK OF THE TOWN]SM tour shrugs off rain for big gig

Korean pop groups from SM Entertainment rocked the night out at the Shanghai Stadium last Saturday. Teen idol groups including Super Junior, Girls’ Generation and Dongbangsingi, staged a concert titled, “SM Town Live 08,” proving a hit with some 4...

Park calls for a more cosmopolitan hallyu

Everything that has a beginning has an end, and hallyu, or the Korean wave, is no exception, according to singer-songwriter Park Jin-young. “The wave has lost its heat,” Park said at an open lecture at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts...

Park Jin-young Writes Song for SMAP's New Album

Singer and producer Park Jin-young has written a song for Japanese group SMAP's 21st studio album, to be released on September 23. JYP Entertainment said it will be Park's second contribution to the group's album since its 42nd single "White Mess...

Rain Produces Special Comeback Show with MBC

Singer Rain will take part in producing a special program with MBC to celebrate his return to the K-pop scene. Rain plans to release his much-anticipated special album in October. The special program featuring Rain is expected to be similar to...

[TALK OF THE TOWN]Pop star Rain wows the crowd at Olympics closing ceremony

Any remaining doubts that Rain is a global star were dispelled last Sunday at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Beijing National Stadium. Rain, whose real name is Jeong Ji-hun, sang “Beijing, Beijing, I Love Beijing” in Ch...

Rain Drinks In Olympics Emotion

Singer Rain has spoken about performing at the Beijing Olympic closing ceremony on Sunday. The Korean singer sang the closing theme song “Beijing, Beijing, I Love Beijing” with other Chinese stars, including Hong Kong-based Kelly Chen, Taiwanese ...

Rain Says Closing Ceremony Performance Was 'Electrifying'

Singer and actor Rain performed "Beijing, I Love Beijing" with popular Chinese entertainers during the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics held at the Main Olympic Stadium, or the "Bird's Nest," on August 24. Rain performed with popular...

Seo Tai-ji, ETP FEST Rock Seoul

The ETP FEST 2008 (Eerie Taiji People Festival) got off to a good start Friday, with a line-up featuring Korean groups Epik High, Clazziquai Project and Crying Nut. Day 1 of ETP Fest started with performances by Korean indie acts Sunday Brunc...

All Stars praise local jazzsters

It’s amazing what you can pack into a couple of days. Carl Allen, drummer and Jazz Artistic Director at The Juilliard School in New York, was in Seoul just last Friday and Saturday with the Juilliard Jazz All Stars. The group made time in i...

TVXQ! Attains Most Oricon Wins

The five member K-pop group, TVXQ!, set a new record with Japan's Oricon music charts. Their 23rd single released in Japan on the 16th, "How did I Start Liking You," ranked first on the Oricon Daily Singles chart and then reached first on the Ori...

Rain Holds 'Summer Vacation with Rain' Fan Meeting

Singer and actor Rain is back in Korea. Rain's management agency JTune Entertainment said Rain will hold a fan meeting on July 27 at the Seoul Olympic Park's Olympic Hall. The theme of the fan meeting, to be attended by both Korean and other ...

What Makes the Wonder Girls 'So Hot'?

Leave it to the Wonder Girls to make lightning strike twice. Not long ago the pop group sparked a national craze with their hit song and dance "Tell Me". Now it looks as if they've done it again, with their latest track "So Hot" growing as popula...

Rain Makes Forbes List Again

Singer and actor Rain has once again found his name on the pages of U.S. economic journal Forbes. According to a representative from J.Tune Entertainment, Rain was one of the names in the July 14th article, "10 Celebs and their Cells, " which...

Rain Among Top Global Cell Phone Celebrities

Korean superstar Rain has been featured in U.S. business and financial news magazine Forbes once again. The singer and actor was featured earlier this week on Forbes.com as one of ten celebrities representing major cell phone brands from across the g...

Rain to Return to Music this Fall

Since his entry into the Hollywood movie market, singer and actor Rain has been a busy man. He has finally announced that he will be returning to the music business this September. Rain held an official event with his Japanese fan club, "The C...

Song Hye-kyo Teams Up with Michelle Yeoh

Hallyu star Song Hye-kyo teams up with Michelle Yeoh from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memories of a Geisha" fame to target the Asian public. According to the film magazine "Variety," Song recently signed a contract with Stella Entert...

Rain Heads to Japan from Berlin Movie Shoot

Actor and singer Rain (Jung Ji-hoon, 26) has been in Berlin filming a movie, but he will be flying to Tokyo, Japan on the 30th for a free admission meeting with his fans at JCB Hall. His agency, J.Tune Entertainment, recently posted photographs o...

Stars Come Together for Earthquake Victims

Korean stars have come together to help out the victims of a devastating earthquake in China. Celebrities who joined the recording of “I Love Asia,” a joint earthquake relief project, at a studio in southern Seoul included singer/producer Park Ji...

Rain in Dance Battle on "The Colbert Report"

Singer and actor Rain finally met the popular U.S. comedian Stephen Colbert, the same man who lampooned him on national TV. Rain was in L.A. for the premiere of his Hollywood debut in "Speed Racer," and on the night of the 5th, he showed off h...

Rain Makes into Encyclopedia Britannica

World star Rain (real name Jung Ji-hoon) has been listed in the Year in Review 2007 of the Encyclopedia Britannica Online. He is only the third Korean figure to be included in the biographies section of the Britannica. The other two are poet Ko U...

Rain's Agency Targets Japanese Market

Rain's entertainment agency J. Tune Entertainment (CEO Cho Dong-won) is preparing to launch a cellular content service for Japanese fans. On April 28th, a J. Tune representative announced that they have signed a contract with ACCEL Corporation...

Singer Jang Nara Carries Olympic Flame

Singer and actress Jang Nara, 27, carried the Olympic flame in Seoul. Jang's management agency said although it had been informed of Jang's selection earlier, it refrained from publicizing the affair to allow the singer to carry the torch with...

Name Mix-Up Dampens Rain's Hollywood Debut

Singer and actor Rain had an embarrassing moment at the premier of his Hollywood debut film "Speed Racer" at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Saturday. The 26-year-old Korean superstar was introduced as Taejo Togokhan, the name of his characte...

Lee Byung-heon Returns to TV Drama

Korean star Lee Byung-heon is returning to TV screen in a spy thriller titled “Iris.” Lee’s first TV drama in five years since his starring role in “All In,” “Iris” is Korea’s first attempt at a high-tech spy thriller filled with flashy action sc...

Premiere of Film "Speed Racer" to be Held in Tokyo

The premiere of "Speed Racer," a film by the Wachowski brothers in which singer Rain makes his Hollywood film debut, will be held in June. The film premiere, to be held at the Tokyo Dome on June 25, will invite 35,000 audience members. The fil...

Racy Rain shifts into top gear

Role in Wachowski brothers’ movie leads to other Hollywood jobs Pop star Rain has leapt into the Hollywood limelight. He’s been cast in “Speed Racer,” a live action film by the Wachowski brothers, the creators of “The Matrix” (1999). Speed Ra...

Rain in "TIME" Magazine for 3rd Consecutive Year

Actor and singer Rain was asked for an interview with the weekly U.S. journal "TIME," according to J. Tune Entertainment. Every year, "TIME" magazine presents a select list of "100 of the World's Most Influential People" and currently, Rain ha...

Rain to Begin International PR Tour for 'Speed Racer'

Actor and singer Rain will begin a world tour for the promotion of the simultaneous international release of Hollywood's "Speed Racer" on May 8th. According to Warner Brothers Korea, Rain starts his promotional tour in Korea on the 20th, then ...

Lee Jun-ki Chosen as New Model for Pepsi

Popular Korean actor Lee Jun-ki has been chosen as the new model for Pepsi Cola in China along with other young Asian celebrities including Jolin and Louis Koo of Hong Kong. Lee's management agency said Pepsi chose the Korean actor as its new ...

Actor Lee Byung-hun to Launch Film Tour in Japan

Top Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun is set to launch a large-scale film-screening tour in Japan. The actor, who successfully pulled off seven large-scale fan meetings in four major Japanese cities last year--Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya--will l...

Samsung Unveils Promotional Music Video Starring Rain

Samsung Electronics has unveiled the 2008 Beijing Olympics theme song and the music video that will be used for advertising its Anycall mobile phones. Singer and actor Rain, who is one of the hottest celebrities in Asia, stars in the music video....

Tasting the mirage-like 'Korean wave'

n the last few years, Korean films, TV dramas and pop music have become immensely popular abroad, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave. This is the first in a series of essays by a select group of foreign scholars and journalists looking at the ...

Lee Hyun-do to Produce Main Theme Song of 'KungFu Panda'

Singer and album producer Lee Hyun-do (36) will take part in producing the original soundtrack of 'KungFu Panda,' an animated Hollywood film. 'KungFu Panda' is being produced by Dreamworks and features the voices of top Hollywood actors such a...

[Talk of the town]K-pop tries to woo U.S. audiences

Singer and producer Park Jin-young made quite a splash in New York last Friday. According to JYP Entertainment, his own music company, an audience of 4,000 packed into the Wamu Theater in Madison Square Garden last Friday to see Park plus Min, G-...

Rain Unveils Samsung's Olympic Theme Song in Beijing

To introduce Samsung Electronics' Anycall mobile phone model for the Beijing Olympic Games, singer Rain attended the "Press Conference for Samsung Advertisement Model, Rain" held in Beijing, China on February 21. During the press conference, S...

Rain receives award for promoting nation's image

Rain (Jung Ji-Hoon), one of the most successful and admired performers in Asia, yesterday received the 2008 Korea Image Stepping Stone Award, which is given annually by the Corea Image Communication Institute. The awards ceremony was held in the G...

Hollywood Calls for Rain

Rain speaks at a press conference held to announce a strategic partnership between his agency J.Tune and the William Morris Agency of the U.S. at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Wednesday. /Yonhap Korean pop idol Rain has snagged his first leading r...

Top Star Rain Joins WMA

Singer and actor Rain is set to launch his career in the United States. He recently signed a contract with William Morris Agency in Hollywood. Rain's management agency said it has decided to join hands with an internationally renowned agency W...

[Talk of town]Sending some Rain to wash away oil

The number of volunteers flocking to Taean, South Chungcheong to clean the area’s oil-ravaged coasts exceeded 1,150,000 as of Monday. Pop star Rain is among the helping hands. Despite his busy performance schedule, he headed for the damaged coas...

Rain to Sing Theme for Beijing Olympics

Korean pop idol Rain has been tapped to sing the theme song of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Rain, who is a star across much of Asia, will be the first Korean to sing an Olympic theme song since quartet Koreana sang "Hand in Hand" for the Se...

Must-See Films in 2008

This year, a long lineup of star-studded movies, both homegrown and Hollywood imports, awaits release with Korea's hottest stars and bona fide actors gracing the silver screen throughout 2008. While a high profile cast hasn't always guaranteed...

Rain May Sing Olympic Theme

Singer Rain may sing the theme song for this year's Beijing Olympics. He recently received a request from the Olympic organizing committee and is positively reviewing it. He was asked to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Doha Asia...

Too old at 35? The best is yet to come

Legendary producer gets back behind mic Park Jin-young’s career has come full circle, and his latest album is suitably titled “Back to Stage.” After a six-year break, Park is once again behind the mic and back in front of an audience. His n...

How Stars Create Their Names

Some fans send presents and letters to their favorite stars, shouting their names and wishing they could get a closer look at them. But little they may know about the special meanings to the names of their favorite stars hold. ``Cover Story,''...

[Talk of town]TV stations axe music awards

Roll out the red carpet, bust out the couture and summon the stars. It’s that time of the year: awards ceremonies season. But not in Korea. For this first time there won’t be any year-end music awards ceremonies aired on terrestrial stations in ...

[MOVIE REVIEW] 'Virgin Snow' contrasts Korea and Japan

"Virgin Snow," a Korean-Japanese co-production, is not exactly a seamless integration of Korean and Japanese filmmaking sensibilities. Although Korean director Han Sang-hee helms this ambitious project, the film's overall identity is pretty much ...

MTV, Rain Campaign Against Human Trafficking

MTV, one of the world's largest and influential television network, has launched ``End Exploitation and Trafficking'' (EXIT), a global campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking. Along with Thai star Tata Young, Korea's pop singer Rain...

Park Jin-young to Release New Album

Top Korean music producer Park Jin-young is releasing his first album in six years on Nov. 15. He made the announcement Monday on the Web site of JYP Entertainment, where he is the CEO. ``After being a producer for six years, I will become a...

10 Hallyu Stars

The Korea Times, the nation's first English daily, turns 57 on Nov. 1. The TOP 10 Series, which will feature the biggest news stories, scandals, events, figures, surprises and memorable moments in the coming weeks, in celebration of the anniversa...

Largest Ever PIFF Draws Curtains

The 12th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) featured ``Evangelion 1.0: Your Are (Not) Alone'' Friday, closing what has grown to become Asia's largest film festival after nine days of fickle weather and ambivalent responses. This year's ...

PIFF Transforms Into Cinema Paradise

Actress Moon So-ri, left, and her husband, director Jang Jun-hwan speak as hosts of the opening ceremony for the 12th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF), Thursday night. / Yonhap The Korean Peninsula is sizzling up with not one but...

Singer Rain to Perform in China

Korean singer, Rain, 25, will hold a large-scale concert next month in Shanghai. The show, which was initially planned in April as part of the singer's world tour, ``Rain's Coming," had been cancelled due to difficulty in finding a venue and g...

Rain Resumes Singing

Singer Rain will make a comeback to the stage by participating in a Chinese event on September 24 after a four-month hiatus. Rain, who suspended his singing career in May due to the filming of the movie "Speed Racer," will participate in a Kor...

[Talk of the town]Japan, France, Korea team up

Yu Aoi, a top Japanese actress, has recently been asked to appear on an episode of a joint film project titled “Tokyo!” It is a production of three movie companies from Korea, France and Japan. The directors are Bong Joon-ho of Korea and Leos Car...

Jeon Do-yeon to Appear on CNN's "Talk Asia"

Actress Jeon Do-yeon, who won the Best Actress award at the latest Cannes Film Festival, will appear on CNN's talk show "Talk Asia." The show introduces prominent people from Asia. Korean stars who have been invited to the show so far include ...

Rain Takes Part in Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign

Korean actor and singer Rain will take part in an anti-human trafficking campaign with the help of global music network MTV and the U.S. Agency for International Development. MTV and the U.S. Agency for International Development will produce a...

Full House Season 2 in the Making

Season 2 of the hit KBS drama series 'Full House' is in the making. Park Chang-sik at Kim Jong-hak Production says "Jo Jeong-hwa has been working on the script for a year and the script is ready for the 3rd episode so far. Overseas shooting is...

Big 4 to Hold Concert in US

The country's flagship music groups, collectively known as the "Big 4," will hold a concert in the United States. Now in its third year, the Big 4 will perform at the Manhattan Center in New York on Aug. 4 and the Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vega...

Seoul Inaugurates Digital Film Fest

An explosive kinetic force will boost the dynamics of Seoul, as some 40 art films mix with digital technology in Cinema Digital Seoul 2007 (CinDi), July 20-27 at multiplex theater CGV Apgujeong in southern Seoul. Amid the high tide of summer film fes...

[Talk of the town]Los Angeles cancellation is No. 5 on pop singer Rain’s United States tour

At a fan event in Los Angeles last week, Rain said that he was “sorry” and “upset” about a last minute cancellation for a performance in the city’s downtown Staples Center. “I tried my best, but there were problems with setting up the stage even...

Pop Singer Rain Cancels L.A. Concert

Korean pop sensation Rain canceled a concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, just one hour before he was due to go on stage. Star M, the Korea-based producer of the singer's world tour, blamed the situation on financial problems w...

S. Korean pop singer Rain cancels concert in L.A.

A concert in Los Angeles by South Korean pop singer Rain was abruptly canceled about two hours before his performance, the singer's Seoul-based producer said on Sunday according to Yonhap News Agency. Rain was to perform in Staples Center, downtown...

S. Korean pop singer Rain cancels concert in L.A.

LOS ANGELES, July 1 (Yonhap) -- A concert in Los Angeles by South Korean pop singer Rain was abruptly canceled just one and a half hours before his performance, the singer's Seoul-based producer said Sunday. Star M Entertainment Co. said it signed...

(LEAD) S. Korean pop singer Rain cancels concert in L.A.

(ATTN: UPDATES with details) LOS ANGELES, July 1 (Yonhap) -- A concert in Los Angeles by South Korean pop singer Rain was abruptly canceled about two hours before his performance, the singer's Seoul-based producer said Sunday. Rain was to perform...

Ko So-young: Never Out of the Public Eye

s an entertainment reporter, I am often asked: “Who is the most beautiful in the flesh?” Even in the world of entertainment, where a fresh drop-dead gorgeous face is making her debut every five minutes, the actress Ko So-young is perhaps the most...

Rain to Star in Special CNN Ad

Korean singer Rain will be the main model for a special advertisement on the world's biggest news channel CNN. This special type of ad that restrains the sending of commercial messages has appealed more to customers and has actively been used ...

Singer Rain Cleared for US Concert

Korean pop star Rain can now use his stage name for his ``Rain's Coming'' world concert tour in the United States. Yonhap News reported the Nevada state district court on Thursday dropped the lawsuit filed by music company Rain Corp. challenging t...

Rain Fans Sign Petition to Show Support

Fans from all over the world are signing a petition in support of K-pop singer Rain, who is facing a legal battle over the use of his name in the United States. On the Web site www.ipetitions.com, a fan created an online petition titled ``Rain/Bi ...

Korean Films Attack the Big Apple

Korean cinema will take a big bite of the Big Apple as the 2007 New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) begins Friday. The festival will feature more than 30 works from the East, of which almost a third are Korean. The event will take place at the I...

US Mag Covers Music Mogul Park JYP

The New York-based business magazine Crain's has carried a two page spread on JYP USA, a studio that Korean music mogul Park Jin-young is set to open June 20 in Manhattan. The article introduced an interview with the musician cum businessman cover...

"Family Ties" ("The Birth of a Family") Wins Top Prize at Home

The nation's oldest film awards ceremony, the Grand Bell Awards, gave its top prize to low-key hybrid-family-drama "Family Ties" ("The Birth of a Family") , directed by Kim Tae-yong. The film, which has toured a number of international film festivals...

Korean pop star on 'Billboard' cover

Korean music producer and singer Park Jin-young has become the first Korean to appear on the cover of the prestigious U.S. magazine "Billboard", which is dedicated to the music industry. Park Jin-young, who produced the Korean heartthrob singer Ra...

Singer Rain Postpones US Concerts

K-pop superstar Rain postponed his concerts in the United States this month, as he faces a lawsuit over the use of the name "Rain". Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, was originally scheduled to hold concerts in Honolulu, Hawaii on June 15, At...

U.S. Band Rain Thwart's Korean Star's American Tour

The Korean singer Rain's concerts in the U.S. as part of his world tour have been postponed due to controversy over his stage name. His Korean name "Bi" means "Rain" in English, but the singer faces legal action filed by U.S. recording firm Rain Corp...

A star shines his light into the lives of others

Cha In-pyo, sitting with photographs of children from the third world. Cha, 41, has made a name for himself as an actor with good looks and a good heart. By Shin In-seop Actor Cha In-pyo, 41, is an ambassador for volunteer organizations such a...

Beauty Hallyu on the Way

Korean beauty salons are going overseas. The level and quality of Korean parlors are now on par with big name foreign shops. The fashion styles of Hallyu stars like singer Rain, actor Lee Byeong-Heon and actresses Song Hye-kyo and Choi Ji-woo has pro...

Rain Becomes First K-Pop Star to Perform at Tokyo Dome

Korean pop star Rain wowed nearly 40,000 fans at a concert at the Tokyo Dome on Friday evening, becoming the first Korean singer to hold a solo concert at the stadium. Rain performed 21 songs during the concert, including his Japanese language sin...

Singer Rain Performs in Tokyo

Pop sensation Rain performed on Friday at the Tokyo Dome, becoming the first artist from South Korea to give a solo performance at the stadium in the Japanese capital. The Tokyo performance drew an audience of 35-thousand fans, mostly women. Th...

Unremarkable faces new trend in ads

In a recent TV commercial for Hanwha group's newly-built apartments, an elegant model pauses to take landscape pictures. It isn't different from other commercials, until you find out that this model is not an entertainment star, but an ordinary care...

Rain Pays Tribute to Outgoing Manager

The K-pop superstar Rain has paid tribute to the role of his manager Park Jin-young in his stellar rise. Park "taught me to fish instead of how to eat fish. He taught me many things, including how to sing, but he always stressed the importance of sta...

Actor Lee Byeong-heon to Make Global Debut

Actor and heartthrob Lee Byeong-Heon will make his global debut with a starring role in Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung's film "I Come with the Rain". In the movie, the Korean star will play the role of a Hong Kong gang leader. Tran achie...

Rain Lands Part in Hollywood Movie

The Korean singer and actor Rain has a foot in the door in Hollywood after being cast in "Speed Racer", the next film by the Wachowski brothers, who created "The Matrix". Rain is to play a character who takes part in high-speed car races to secure hi...

Rain Cast in Hollywood Film

Korean singer-actor Rain will take part in "Speed Racer", a new film by Andy and Larry Wachowski of "The Matrix" fame. Rain will play a talented rookie car racer who struggles to save his family business. He will join the filming in Berlin for two mo...

Rain to Debut in Hollywood in Wachowski Film

Korean pop star Rain will make his debut in Hollywood in the action-adventure "Speed Racer" by the Wachowski brothers. Rain will play a supporting role as a race car driver who is a link between two main characters. Andy and Larry Wachowski, creato...

Rain secures role in Hollywood action film

Rain, set for world concert tour, poses at the U.N. Plaza in Manhattan on May 11. Korean pop singer Rain will make his Hollywood debut in May 2008, playing an Asian car racer in an action adventure. Rain has already gained popularity throughout A...

Jang Dong-gun, Bae Yong-joon and others awarded at the First Annual Hallyu Awards

The Korean Entertainment Industry Society selected Jang Dong-gun, Bae Yong-joon, and 21 others to be awarded at the first Hallyu Awards. In the star category, Jang Dong-gun and Jeon Ji-hyeon (movie), Bae Yong-joon and Lee Young-ae (drama), Rain an...

[Talk of the town] Rain flies

Rain, also known as Bi and Jeong Ji-hun, has decided against renewing his contract with JYP Entertainment, the company that made his name. Rain was the biggest star at the talent agency, founded by Park Jin-young, the singer-turned-manager. The agenc...

JUNG Ji-hoon in Talks with The Wachowski Brothers

Pan-Asian pop star Rain – who uses his real name JUNG Ji-hoon for his acting career – is negotiating about a role in the Hollywood film Speed Racer of the directing duo the Wachowski brothers. JUNG's agency also announced that the talks have reached ...

U.S. Comedian Rains Mockery on Rain

"Endless modesty?" U.S. comedian Stephen Colbert had a few satirical words for Rain, Korea's top pop-singer. Colbert mocked Rain, who beat Colbert in an online poll of the world's 200 most influential people by Time magazine, in a recent broadcast...

Comic does his bit to make Korea's Rain household word in America

"King of Korean Pop" Rain is surely proud to be at the top of Time's readers' poll of the 100 most influential people. His place at No. 1 no doubt turned a few heads, but one head -- that of American satirist Stephen Colbert -- seems to have kept tur...

Voice of Korean Soul to Go to US

Jang Sa-ik is certainly no Rain or Boa. Both musically and in his personal background, Jang stakes out a position at the opposite end of the spectrum from these idols. But the three, from their respective positions, add their particular dynamic to ha...

Entertainer Rain Disclosed to Help Cancer Patient

Top singer Rain, 25, with original name of Jung Ji-hoon, will be disclosed to have helped in secret his fan living a time-limited life due to serious cancer in a five-part special TV documentary Saturday. Part 4 or "Promise of Mom" of "the Human D...

Singer Rain to Make Hollywood Debut

Korean top entertainer Jung Ji-hoon, better known as Rain, is expected to make his Hollywood debut in the Wachowski brothers' new film "Speed Racer". According to Rain's agency JYP Entertainment, Rain has been offered a part in the new film direct...

What if Rain Parts Ways With JYP

Perhaps Korea's most internationally recognized entertainer, the singer and actor Rain came to the end of his exclusive contract with management firm JYP on Thursday. Rain will decide where to go after his world tour ends in June. There are rumors he...

Singer Rain lauded as Korea's answer to Jon Bon Jovi

Readers of Time Magazine online have chosen Korea's heartthrob singer Rain as the most influential person on the planet in an online vote. In an article "Time learns that popular taste can vary a lot with the test market", the New York Times said ...

[Talk of the town] When it Rains, it pours

April was not a cruel month for Rain, also known as Bi or as Jeong Ji-hun, his given name. Rain had plenty of good news, including the announcement on April 27 that People magazine in the United States, had selected him as one of its Most Beautiful P...

Top Stars Win Andre Kim Awards

Top Korean fashion designer Andre Kim gave recognition to Korea's most beautiful and popular stars during his 2007 Best Star Awards at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, Monday evening. Actress Lee Young-ae, who starred in the hit MBC drama "Dae Jang...

Rain to Fall on World's Most Beautiful List

Korean pop singer Rain has been named one of the world's most beautiful people by an American entertainment magazine. Rain, who is currently on a world tour, was selected by People magazine for its annual roundup of the world's 100 most beautiful ...

Rain Named to People's 'Most Beautiful' List

Pop music star Rain is on People magazine's annual "100 Most Beautiful People" list. His promotional agency says the 25 year-old singer has made the list for the first time, and is among seven people on the list from outside the US. Last year, Time...

Rain Makes Global List of 100 Most Beautiful People

Korean singer Rain has made People magazine's annual list of the world's 100 most beautiful people. The singer's agency, JYP Entertainment, said Thursday that the list includes seven non-Americans including Rain, adding that a half-page article wi...

Rain Atop Time 100 Online Vote

Singer Rain could well be named as one of the world's top 100 influential people by Time magazine for the second year. The singer current sits atop the ongoing online survey to determine this year's Time 100 list. Rain made it on the list for t...

Rain to Perform at Prestigious Tokyo Dome

In yet another confirmation of his stature as an international star, Rain is scheduled to be the first Korean singer to hold a concert at Japan's Tokyo Dome stadium. The pop sensation traveled to Japan on Wednesday, two days after returning from last...

Rain to Perform at Madison Square Garden Again

Top Korean singer Rain will hold another concert at Madison Square Garden in New York, the venue of his debut performance in America. The New York concert is part of his June world tour, which includes stops in Atlanta, San Francisco, and Los Angeles...

Hallyu Moving on to Musicals

Musicals are emerging as the new Hallyu market. While the Korean pop culture boom involving singers and TV dramas such as "Winter Sonata" and "Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace)" has waned, musicals are getting a fresh boost. The attraction of Ko...

Singer Rain Descends on Australia for World Tour

The Stamford Plaza Hotel in Sydney on Wednesday was bustling with about 100 reporters and photographers from all over Asia and Australia. They were there for a press conference with Rain who had arrived a few days ahead of his Saturday concert, his f...

Rain Eyes US Debut with English Album

Singer Rain, who is approaching global stardom, announced plans for his U.S. debut during a news conference in Australia. The conference in Sydney preceded his concert tour in the "land down under". He mentioned the U.S. debut plans when asked wha...

Korean American to Star Alongside Robert De Niro

The half-Korean U.S. actress and model Moon Bloodgood will shoot a film with Robert De Niro. Barry Levinson, who directed "Rain Man" and "Bugsy" will direct the movie titled "What Just Happened?" Bloodgood's agency on Wednesday said shooting began in...

Jeon Ji-hyeon Cedes Advertising Power to Jang Dong-gun

Consumers no longer feel that Jeon Ji-hyun is the most bankable advertising model and instead name Jang Dong-gun. The finding is the result of a survey of 1,465 people in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province by brand consultancy Brand38 from March 5 until 15....

Japanese Actor Ken Watanabe to Make First Visit to Korea

World famous Japanese actor Ken Watanabe will make his first visit to Korea to participate in the press preview of his latest film "Memories of Tomorrow", scheduled to be released in Korea on April 23. Watanabe has become famous worldwide for his ...

Rain Refreshes Harvard High-Flyers After Chosun Ilbo Visit

Some 60 students of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government stomp and whistle, while several shout in Korean, "I love you!" and "You are gorgeous!" They are responding to the image of their hero, the workaholic Korean superstar, on the scre...

'Host' eats rivals at Asian festival

The Korean monster flick "The Host" walked off with four grand awards at the debut of the Asian Film Festival in Hong Kong last week. "The Host" picked up best picture, best actor, best cinematographer and best visual effects awards. The film's lea...

The Host Wins the Most at 1st Asian Film Awards

South Korea's all-time blockbuster "The Host" dominated prizes at the very first edition of the Asian Film Awards which took place March 20th in Hong Kong. The inaugural event aspires to be the Asian film industry's equivalent to the Oscars, recogniz...

[UPGRADING KOREAN CULTURE (3)]Online fans reshaping pop music world

More and more Korean pop stars are making some serious noise all across Asia. Not to mention such established stars as Boa and Rain, many young, up and coming singing and dancing talents are now targeting overseas markets from the very beginning, eve...

"The Host" Tops Asian Film Awards

South Korea's monster flick "The Host" has dominated Hong Kong's inaugural Asian Film Awards after winning four awards out of its five nominations. The movie, directed by Bong Joon-ho, won the Best Film, Best Cinematographer and Best Visual Effect...

Song Kang-ho Wins Best Actor at HK Film

HONG KONG _ The South Korean film "The Host" shone at the Asian Film Awards yesterday, grabbing four awards. "The Host" won Best Film, Best Cinematographer and Best Visual Effects awards. Its main actor Song Kang-ho won the Best Actor Award. The B...

City Looking to Become Hub for Entertainment

HONG KONG _ Rain shone in yesterday's gala event for the Hong Kong International Film Festival. But he was not the only one who sparkled the festival. The city was in a big festive mood thanks to many international stars who stepped onto the red c...

Rain in Vietnam for World Tour

Singer Rain has visited Vietnam to give a performance in the country's economic center of Ho Chi Minh as part of his world tour. The top Korean singer will hold concerts at the city's QK Stadium with 25,000 seats on March 10 and 11. Earlier on Thursd...

Music Occupies Chungmuro Productions

It is now music that Chungmuro, Korea's "Hollywood", is taking up as the new trend in subject matter after it previously sought after the "gangster" film theme. The latest trend began with "Radio Star", which deals with the friendship between a singe...

Come buy, I want to be famous and rich

Byeon Jeong-soo, Lee Hye-young and Miggi Chi. Provided by Brand Polish What's so special about that brand-new trench coat that costs 130,000 won ($136) or those denim pants, that cost 89,000 won for two pairs? It's Lee Seung-yeon, the stylish actr...

Rain Pours Out to Fans

K-pop star Rain met with 3,000 fans from 20 countries during a special fan meeting event held at the Weight Lifting Stadium in the Olympic Park, southern Seoul on Sunday. The meeting titled "Rain's Friend _ '07 Meeting of Rain's Fans" gave the pop...

Award Winner

"I came to Berlin for the first time six years ago for the movie, "JSA - Joint Security Area". Back then people thought Korean movies were unfamiliar and I felt rustic. I feel proud seeing Korean films being acknowledged in the global arena now". ...

Director Park 'Overwhelmed' by Berlin Film Fest Prize

"I'm more than overwhelmed, since Berlin was the first film festival I'd ever attended. Back then I was more like a loutish country boy. To think of it now, Berlin is the festival I've attended most, since this is my fourth visit after 'JSA - Joint S...

'Radio Star' Tries to Live up to Past

Lee Joon-ik's latest film suffers in comparison to previous hit Mirja Maletzki (jane0815) Having to live up to your own fame is never easy. The elderly rock star Choi Gon (Park Joong-hoon) finds out the hard way in Lee Joon-ik's 2006 movie "Rad...

PARK Wins Berlin's Alfred Bauer Prize

South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook won the Alfred Bauer Prize, one of the 8 main awards at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival, for his imaginative comedy "I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK". The festival, also known as the Berlinale, announced the...

Rain, Song Hye-kyo Promote Drama in China

Actress Song Hye-kyo and singer/actor Rain will visit China to promote their drama "Full House", which aired on KBS 2TV a few years ago in Korea. They will leave Seoul Thursday for a 3-day visit to Hunan, China, where a news conference and a fan m...

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