Biography
Who is Rain?
Early life and real name
Rain was born as Jung Ji-hoon on June 25, 1982, in Seosan, South Korea. His mother passed away in December 2000 while struggling with diabetes. During the same year, he was recruited as a trainee for JYP Entertainment by recording artist and producer Park Jin-young.
In interviews, he recalled facing multiple rejections due to his appearance before Park Jin-young recognized his drive and persistence. During his early training period, Rain worked as a backup dancer and later debuted briefly in a boy band named Fanclub before starting his solo career.
Music career highlights
On May 13, 2002, Jung debuted as a solo singer under the stage name Rain with his first album, Bad Guy. He followed this with his second album, How to Avoid the Sun, released on October 16, 2003. From 2002 to 2003, he also served as a host for the television program Music Bank.
He achieved breakthrough success with his third album, It's Raining, released on October 8, 2004. The album sold over one million copies across Asia and established him as a top musical act. He subsequently released several other albums, including Rain's World in 2006, Rainism in 2008, and Back to the Basic in 2010.
Acting and international projects
Rain made his acting debut in the 2003 television drama Sang Doo! Let's Go To School. His subsequent lead role in the hit drama Full House in 2004 established his status as a major Hallyu star across Asia. He also expanded into international film projects, making his Hollywood debut in Speed Racer in 2008.
In 2009, he starred in the action film Ninja Assassin, which made him the first Korean recipient of an MTV Movie Award. He later served in the South Korean military for his mandatory service after completing a farewell tour in 2011.
Companies and awards
Throughout his career, Rain has established his own entertainment companies twice. He founded J. Tune Entertainment in 2007 and later launched R.A.I.N. Company in 2015 to manage his future entertainment activities and projects.
Rain has received numerous accolades for his work in music and acting. His awards include multiple Mnet Asian Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, KBS Drama Awards, and Baeksang Arts Awards. He was also named one of Time magazine's most influential people in the world in 2006 and 2011.
Birthday and age
Rain was born on June 25, 1982, which makes Rain 44 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Rain shares the date with 25 other famous people.
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