Jeong Wook (정욱)

[Talk of the town] Rain flies

Source | 2007/05/16 | Permalink |

"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 agency discovered him and trained him for four years before he made his debut five years ago.
"It feels like watching my own son leave home", said Jeong Wook, an executive of JYP Entertainment. The agency stressed that it's not an ugly break-up, saying that "Rain" consulted with Park, who wishes him the best. Local media are now desperate to know which talent agency "Rain" will choose, and speculation is rampant that he may join the company where his father works as an executive officer. "Rain" himself is a stockholder in the company, whose Korean name translates as "White World".
JYP Entertainment, meanwhile, said that "Rain" now has a strong chance to make his debut in Hollywood. The Wachowski brothers, who directed the "Matrix" series...| More

Time: "Rain ready to branch out overseas"

Source | 2005/09/13 | Permalink |

The Asian edition of the U.S. magazine "Time" wrote on Sept. 12 that singer Rain is poised to establish his presence in the U.S. market. "[Rain is now] ready to branch out overseas", wrote the magazine, which interviewed the singer in late August.

Time introduced "Rain" as a popular star who has created a massive female fan base in just three years not only in Korea but in the entire Asian region, has won various music awards from MTV Asia, and has given successful concerts in Japan and Hong Kong.

The magazine ascribed the singer's popularity to Korean TV dramas, "the engine of Korean pop-culture dominance in Asia", and wrote extensively on a KBS TV2 drama scheduled to premiere in October in which Rain plays the lead.

"But why stop there? "Rain"'s managers believe he could be the first Korean star to break into the U.S. market", wrote the magazine.

The magazine also introduced Rain's producer and mentor Park Jin-young, who discovered Rain's talent and introduced him to U.S....| More