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 screen. A shot of the singer's six-pack prompts some female students to sigh, "Oh, my god". All of them laugh. Twenty minutes later Rain, in a beige jacket and jeans, appears on the podium and the room erupts in a blizzard of flashlights.
"Nice to meet you all from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government", Rain says in English before answering questions from students for 20 minutes. Asked, "What's the difference between before and after becoming a star?" Rain answers, "When I was a trainee, I practiced dancing and singing over and over without eating, sleeping and washing for six days. At that time, I danced and sang songs to make a living, but now I sing songs for my fans". Rain plans to give concerts in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco in June. "I'd like to invite you all", he adds.
Before meeting the star, the students, who are on a visit to Seoul, took a look around the headquarter of the Chosun Ilbo. They toured the newspaper's Ubiquitous Media Lab and watched a video about the daily. Chosun Ilbo president Bang Sang-hoon told them, "Now Korean newspapers face two challenges ? new media including Internet media and friction with the government. But we're trying to overcome challenges by producing premium content". Students also listened to a lecture about the Chosun Ilbo's cross-media project, which provides features at the same time through the newspaper, TV, the Internet and video.
Students from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government take pictures together in the Chosun Ilbo building in Seoul on Tuesday.
The visiting group met Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in the afternoon and head for Japan on Wednesday.
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K-pop superstar Rain shows a Harvard school mug given to him by students from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government at the office of JYP Entertainment in Cheong-dam dong, Seoul on Tuesday.
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