Basic Info
Rain (Jung Ji Hoon) debuted in 2002 with JYP Entertainment (JYPE) after training for several years and working as a backup dancer to JYPE CEO (and singer) Jin Young Park (JYP). Rain’s debut contemporaries include girl groups Sugar and Swi.T. and boy group BlackBeat. Beyond Rain’s talents in singing, choreography, and acting, he is known for his work ethic and strong and sweet personalities - all of which are highlighted by his personal motto, “Endless Effort, Endless Endurance, Endless Modesty.” Rain was given his stage name by his mentor and manager, JYP, who thought Rain’s dancing was tinged with sadness. Rain is also known by other names: Bi/Pi and Yu, which mean “Rain” in their respective languages (Korean and Chinese). Before Rain debuted as a solo artist, he performed for a short time with a group called Fanclub.
Despite his successful career with JYPE -- which included several music awards, a Japanese debut, and the beginning of an acting career in Korea and the United States -- Rain left JYPE in 2007 to start his own company, J.Tune Entertainment. There, he produced his own albums and a protege group, MBLAQ. In December 2010, Jin Young Park assumed management of J.Tune Entertainment, and in October 2011 Rain began his two-year mandatory military conscription with the Korean Military Manpower Administration. Rain is slated to complete his military service in July 2013.