kdrama and kpop

포토스크랩포토구매

Korean actress Lee Na-young [Asia Economic Daily]

Korean actress Lee Na-young has been cast in upcoming KBS TV series tentatively titled "The Fugitive," making her first small screen comeback in six years.

According to various industry sources, the actress is set to play the female lead opposite Rain, who is also returning to the small screen for the first time since starring in the 2005 SBS drama "A Love To Kill."

Lee's agency remained cautious about the news, however, saying they are "in negotiations" but has not yet finalized the deal.

"Fugitive" will be directed by noted television producer Kwak Jung-hwan and written by Chun Sung-il, the duo behind the recent hit TV series "The Slave Hunters."

Lee, 31, first rose to stardom with TV series "Ruler of Your Own World" (MBC, 2002) and was last seen on the small screen in "Ireland" (MBC, 2004).

She has also starred in several notable films such as "Please Teach Me English" (2003) and "Maundy Thursday" (2006) and "Someone Special," for which she won best actress at the 25th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Reporter : Park Kun-ouc kun1112@
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>
Source:here

Multi-talented entertainer Rain has become the first Korean celebrity to score a win at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, according to his agency J. Tune Entertainment on Monday.

J. Tune announced in a press release that the singer and actor was named "Biggest Badass Star" at the awards ceremony, held Sunday (U.S. time) in Los Angeles.

Rain picked up MTV's signature popcorn trophy for his star turn in last year's martial arts pic "Ninja Assassin," beating out high-profile nominees such as Angelina Jolie, Channing Tatum, Chris Pine and Sam Worthington.

The star, who had previously said that he was happy just to even be attending the event, delivered the following message through the agency after his big win.

"I think everything I endured while shooting 'Ninja Assassin' is coming to fruition. I would like to thank the fans who have given me enormous support from the bottom of my heart," the actor was quoted as saying.

Born Jung Ji-hoon, Rain has released six studio albums to date and performed at numerous concert tours throughout Asia and in the U.S. including a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden.

He has been busy building his career in Hollywood over the past few years, making his debut through the Wachowski Brothers' pic "Speed Racer" in 2008 and following it up with a lead role in "Assassin."

Last March, he scored a triple win at the Green Planet Movie Awards, picking up trophies for "10 Outstanding Asians in Hollywood," "Asian Cultural Ambassador of the Year" and "Best International Entertainer (Asia)."

Rain will be returning to Korea tomorrow evening.

Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>
Source:here

Rain just won the Biggest Badass Star MTV Movie Award for his role in Ninja Assassin. This just proves how crazy Rain fans are. He won against Stars like Angelina Jolie, Chris Pine, Channing Tatum and Sam Worthington.Congratulations Rain!

Singer and actor Rain and CNN anchorwoman Anna Coren. [J.Tune Entertainment]

Asian pop sensation Rain, set to appear on CNN's "Talk Asia" this week, was invited on the show after being selected as a representative figure of Korea, according to his agency on Monday.

CNN decided that the 27-year-old singer and actor plays a leading role in promoting Korea globally and picked him to appear on the show during this week's "Eye on South Korea", a week-long special program focusing on various aspects of the country including its economy and culture, J.Tune Entertainment explained in a press release.

Anna Coren, one of CNN's main anchorwomen, met with Rain to talk about his career, personal life, his ongoing Asia tour and upcoming Hollywood film "Ninja Assassin".

The show, set to air on Wednesday, will also contain a documentary-type segment featuring Rain's concert in Korea on October 9 -- containing footage from behind the scenes and the concert itself.

Rain started his career with major talenthouse JYP Entertainment but left the agency in November 2007 to start his own entertainment company J. Tune Entertainment.

He has released several albums in Korea and starred in movies and TV series, most notably dramas "Full House" and "Sang Doo! Let's Go To School."

He debuted in Hollywood last year with a supporting role in "Speed Racer" and will star in the upcoming "Ninja Assassin", which is set for a worldwide release in November.

Credits : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
<ⓒ10 Asia All rights reserved>

Rain (left) and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Korean pop icon Rain was appointed as global goodwill ambassador for Seoul in the annex of Seoul City Hall on Tuesday afternoon, receiving the appointment plate from Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

"The brand value of Seoul is literally the brand value of Korea. With Rain, we can enhance the infinite potential of Korea's brand power," Oh said.

Rain donated T-shirts he designed with legend "Infinitely Yours, Seoul" to the city. They will be sold by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, with the proceeds used to help low-income households.

Before the ceremony began, highlights of a video clip promoting Seoul and starring Rain were screened. The video will be aired worldwide on the Discovery Channel.

Credits: englishnews@chosun.com

The Movie Poster for Rain's new hollywood movie Ninja Assassin has just been released. Guess what Rain is standing under.......................the Rain of course! The poster shows Rain's half naked back slashed with wounds and he's holding a sword on his right hand and another weapon on his left hand. His expession doesn't look very friendly, rather fierce.

Korean pop star and actor Rain


Korean pop star and actor Rain, 27, will hold a fashion show for its own brand in Hong Kong in early June.

Rain will show performance at the 2009 F/W fashion show with its own garment brand of "Six to Five" in Hong Kong,according to fashion & design specialist Jtune Creative, an affiliate of Rain's agency, Jtune Entertainment. He is a designer and model for the fashion show.

It will be a good opportunity for Rain to make Six to Five brand familiar with fashion designers and consumers in China, Hong Kong and other Chinese-language countries in Asia as it is staged in Hong Kong, the agency said.

"Six to Five" means that we are aiming to reach the sixth sense from our original five senses. Jtune Creative, in collaboration with Korea Teddy Bear Association, opened SF(Six to Five) Teddy Museum on Jeju Island on April 3 and is scheduled to open a similar one in Bali, Indonesia and Pucket, Thailand.

"Teddy Bears wearing 'Six to Five' brands are on display at SF Teddy Museum," an official of Jtune Creative said. "The two brands will continue to collaborate for their respective business."


Source : The Korea Times

Pop singer Rain


Korean singer Rain and his former agency, JYP Entertainment, currently facing a lawsuit regarding the cancellation of the singer's Hawaii concert, hired new lawyers and requested a retrial last Thursday.

According to the federal court in Hawaii Tuesday, the popular singer and agency separately applied for a retrial on April 2. They also requested the suspension of the decision issued last month by the federal court.

Rain and JYP Entertainment also stated that there was no evidence that the contract between Hawaii-based promoter Click Entertainment and Revolution Entertainment, owners of the North American rights to Rain's concerts, was on the behalf of JYP.

Judge Kevin Chang of the federal court in Hawaii will deliberate the singer's and agency's claim for suspension on May 4.

The agency replaced the original five lawyers with seven appeal lawyers as of April 2, while Rain also appointed attorney Terrence O'Toole as of Tuesday.

The popular singer got himself into a multi-million dollar lawsuit when his concert, part of his world tour ``Rain's Coming,'' was canceled several days before its scheduled date in June 2007. Click Entertainment testified that they lost nearly $1.5 million due to the cancellation and argued that Rain and his crew never intended to perform in Hawaii in the first place.

In the ruling, the federal court ordered Rain and JYP to pay $2.4 million each in punitive damages, $1 million for damages related to fraud and $2.2 million for breach of contract.


Credits : Han Sang-hee, staff Reporter (sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr)
Source : The Korea Times

Several stars are spotted wearing Rain's 6to5 clothing brand. The clothes don't look that bad when worn. I like the striped sweater that Kim Hyun Joong is wearing.

redit : as shown on the pics. / baidu / rainhk / rain-cloud Credit : jinijung/Bi-music thread 'Boys Over Flower' 090328 Star King _Super Junior 090319 After school's Yoo Soyoung

Korea’s superstar Rain and his former management company, JYP Entertainment, just seem to get deeper and deeper into legal troubles. In the wake of the stunning verdict in Hawaii, Rain and JYP are sued this time by Star M, a Korean concert production company, for 4.57 billion won or nearly 3.4 million dollars in damage compensation.

Star M claims that Rain and JYP failed to uphold their end of the bargain in 2006, when the singer cancelled 16 out of 35 concerts planned. At the time Rain and Star M had agreed to hold concerts in China, the U.S., Vietnam, Australia, Japan, and Korea over the period of one year from October, 2006. However, the American patent office had denied the registration of Rain’s concert trademark “RANY” for its similarity with another America singer’s trademark. The rejection had made it impossible for Rain to hold any concerts in America. Star M claims that Rain and JYP knew about the problem, but didn’t tell them about it.

Meanwhile, Rain lost in a lawsuit filed by a Hawaiian entertainment firm that was in charge of his concert in 2007. The Hawaiian court ordered the singer and JYP to pay more than 8 million dollars in damages. Rain’s legal team is getting ready to appeal the court’s decision.

Source: KBS World
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It is surely not fun to be Rain these days.I don't want to be in his shoes. How much did he earn from Ninja Assassin to cover his lawsuit cost?

Kpop star Rain appeared in Court in Hawaii in style as he would be filming the next 007. Shades check, hair check, crispy suit check, smile check.

Rain (Jung Ji-hoon)

HONOLULU - Korean pop star and actor Rain is expected to testify in his civil trial stemming from his canceled concert in Hawaii.

A five-man, three-woman jury was selected among a pool of 52 Tuesday. Opening arguments were scheduled to begin Wednesday. Among the potential jurors who were eliminated was a University of Hawaii student who indicated to the court he was a fan of Rain, but could remain objective.

Rain - whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon - and his producers are being sued over the performer’s abrupt cancellation of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu. Attorneys for both sides listed the 26-year-old performer, who was not in court Tuesday, as one of the witnesses they intended to call. He isn’t expected to be in court until next week.

Senior U.S. District Judge Alan C. Kay told jurors the trial is expected to last about two weeks.

Hawaii-based Click Entertainment Inc. alleges in its lawsuit that Rain and his producers breached a contract and defrauded the company of more than $500,000 paid in licensing fees. It is seeking additional damages for the cost of staging the event. The company also claims in the suit that it has lost business opportunities, earnings and sustained damage to its reputation.

The concert was canceled just days before a scheduled June 15, 2007 performance at Aloha Stadium, disappointing many fans who paid as much as $300 for a ticket and flew to Honolulu from as far as away as Japan and Korea.

It was supposed to be the first stop on the “Rain’s Coming” U.S. tour. Performances in San Francisco, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles were also canceled. All ticket holders were offered refunds. Concert organizers at the time said they called off the performances because of a copyright challenge from Nevada-based record company Rain Corp. A Nevada District Court later dismissed the case.

Also named in the lawsuit are Korea-based companies JYP Entertainment Co. and Star M Entertainment, in addition to other parties.

Rain is widely popular across Asia where his smooth dance moves and sculpted body have earned him the nickname “the Justin Timberlake of Asia.” He also gained popularity with his roles in Korean TV drama series, such as the hit “Full House.”

He has been dabbling in Hollywood in recent years. Rain is scheduled to appear in a leading role in the upcoming action film “Ninja Assassin,” directed by James McTeigue and co-produced by the Wachowski brothers. Rain made his Hollywood debut last year in a supporting role in the brothers’ film “Speed Racer.” AP

Rain


The civil trial against South Korean pop star and actor Rain is scheduled to begin Tuesday in U.S. District Court, The Associated Press reported.

Rain whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon and his producers are being sued over the performer's abrupt cancellation of a June 2007 concert in Honolulu. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday and Rain could be called to testify as early as Wednesday, AP said.

``He will be appearing at some point in the litigation,'' the performer's Honolulu attorney Jennifer Lyons was quoted as saying.

Hawaii-based Click Entertainment Inc. alleges in the suit that Rain and his producers defrauded it of more than $500,000 paid in licensing fees. Also, it is seeking additional damages for the cost of staging the event, including rental of Aloha Stadium, stage production, travel, hotel accommodations, merchandising and advertising.

The concert was canceled just days before the scheduled June 15, 2007, performance at Aloha Stadium, disappointing many fans who paid as much as $300 for a ticket and flew to Honolulu from as far as away as Japan and South Korea. It was the first stop on the ``Rain's Coming'' U.S. tour.

Performances in San Francisco, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles were also canceled. The show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles was canceled less than two hours before show time, ``due to issues related to the show's production,'' promoters said. All ticket holders were offered refunds.

Concert organizers at the time said they called off the performances because of a copyright challenge from Nevada-based record company Rain Corp. A Nevada District Court later dismissed the case.

Rain, 26, is widely popular across Asia where his smooth dance moves and sculpted body have earned him the nickname of the ``Justin Timberlake of Asia.'' He also gained popularity with his roles in Korean TV drama series, such as the hit ``Full House.''


Source : The Korea Times

Korean superstar Rain agreed to a deal with an American album maker, Rain Corporation, over a trademark dispute. Rain's agency, J. Tune Entertainment, reported that Rain will use "The Rain" for all his music activities in the United States. However, he will retain his name, "Rain," for film credits. Also "The Rain," will be used only in America, thus it's not likely to confuse his fans in other regions. In accordance with the decision, Rain will release his debut album in America under the name, "The Rain." The album release is scheduled for late this year.

Rain Corporation, a Las Vegas firm, had filed for damage compensation against Rain for using the name "Rain" for his Las Vegas concert in December 2006. The company also asked for an injunction to ban Rain from using his name in future concerts. The name dispute had forced Rain to cancel his concert in Hawaii in May 2006. Rain was sued by Click Entertainment, the local Hawaiian concert organizer, for 40 million dollars in damage compensation for canceling the concert.


Source : KBS WORLD

World-class star Rain will be on the Discovery Channel, a channel specializing in documentaries, in its “Hip Korea” series. Rain’s agency announced that Rain’s episode will start airing in Australia and New Zealand on January 31, and then in Korea and the rest of the Asian region on February 23. Korea’s hot singer/actor is portrayed as a pioneer of Korean pop culture, someone who represents the nation’s dynamic growth.

The production team of “Hip Korea” followed Rain around for six months, capturing on film his everyday life and down-to-earth personality. The cameras show how he talks about his insecurities with his close friend, comedian Kim Je-dong, and still remembers his mother by visiting her gravesite. In addition, the documentary will contain interviews with Steven Colbert, who engaged Rain in a dance battle in his show, The Colbert Report, famed actress Susan Sarandon, Rain’s costar in “Speed Racer,” and director Park Chan-wook and actress Im Su-jeong from “I’m a Cyborg, but That’s Okay.”

The Discovery Channel is aired in 170 countries around the world and its “Hip Korea” series looks at the rising status of Korean pop culture in the world stage.

Following Speed Racer in 2008, Ninja Assassin is expected to be released in 2009.
Rain is the first Korean actor to star in the hollywood major movie through Ninja Assassin.

In the movie Rain plays a fatal assassin named Raizo, and he is due to show his strong acting.
Ninja Assassin is ranked very high as a film which Rain can pride himself on his attraction,

Even if he compares with any Westerners in his good figure, he is next to none, for his six-pack body which was trained by movie 300’s team is nearly perfect.

Entertainment Weekly, American entertainment journal, rates a positive value on it that Rain’s action is the point of the movie.

credit to Newsen
Brief translation by rain bird@rain-eu // jinijung@soompi
Credit : rainonme / Sexy Bi

Rain is preparing to open his own cafe.

It is known that Rain is expected to open a high-class cafe in the commercial building purchased under the style of Rain, located in Cheongdamdong of Kangnamgoo.

One of Rain's side expressed, "Recently, Rain met an interior designer and inrushed into a definite preparation. Rain has long wanted to have a directly designed cafe by himself."

The building which Rain's cafe will be opened in, has two floors above ground and one underground, its total floor space reaches 1,024 m2(11,022 ft2).

Its price was allegedly quoted over 15 billion won (about 11 million dollars)during the time of economic prosperity. Also, the cafe guaranty money & premium including the interior expenses are estimated at 20 hundred million won (about 1.5 million dollar).

JTune entertainment, Rain's agency, expressed about this, "Rain's cafe is completely distinct from JTune and is personally going on by himself."

credit to NewsEn/Joongang daily/Sports Hankook/Sports Joseon
Brief translation by rain bird@rain-eu
Credit : jinijung / Bi-music thread

"I'm trying to find a girlfriend"
Singer Rain confessed that he is trying hard to find a girlfriend. He confessed in his interview with MBC's '섹션TV 연예통신' saying, "It's not like I can just find one easily, but I'm trying very hard.I think I will be able to find one soon."
After his first Hollywood film "Speed Racers," he was casted for "Ninja Assassin." Although from the outside he seemed to be a happy top world star, from the inside, he was suffering from an intense fight with himself.



He didn't know many people in America so he spent most of the time in his one room apartment dealing with loneliness and depression. "On Christmas Day of 2007, I stayed home, wrapped up in a blanket, crying to myself. " he confessed. He dealt with this by trying to have the mentality that he was starting his career as a 'newbie.' He ate only chicken breast for many months and exercised for many hours daily to get in shape for the movie. He tried his best for the movie, and even though he isn't expecting much from it, he is looking foward to the responses he will get.

Credits to soompi
Source:http://tv.media.daum.net/news/general/200901/03/newsen/v8849673.html

The "Discovery Channel," a documentary TV channel, is to broadcast a program about Seoul and its residents.

The Seoul metropolitan government said the production crew from the Discovery Channel had visited Korea recently to film a documentary about top Korean stars Lee Byung-heon and Rain against the backdrop of the Han River, Mount Namsan and the Myeong-dong and Hongik University areas. The program tells how the two have risen to stardom and gained recognition worldwide.

Entitled "Hip Korea," the program consists of two 45-minute parts. The one entitled "Seoul Vibes" introduces Rain, while the other one, entitled "Seoul Savvy," is about Lee Byung-heon.

The part about Rain shows the Hongik University, Cheongdam-dong and Chyeonggye Stream areas to introduce the dynamic side of Seoul, while the part about Lee shows Apgujeong-dong, Insa-dong and Samcheong-dong to introduce the serene and romantic side of Korea's capital city.

The show will air in Australia and New Zealand in January, in Southeast Asia in February and in Europe in May. A government official said the program is expected to improve Seoul's image by showing off the city's unique charms on the Discovery Channel.

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/new...2379_28572.html