[YEAR-END REVIEW] Superstars Make 2005 Their Own Year
This is the sixth part of a series of articles reviewing Korea's culture scene this year. - Ed.
By culture staff
No Korean wave star seems to have achieved more than multi-talented Rain in 2005. All across Asia, Rain gained unprecedented popularity through his live performances and TV drama appearances just three years after he debuted as a singer in 2002.
Rain's popularity is distinguished from that of other Korean wave stars such as singer Boa and actor Bae Yong-jun. Boa specializes in singing and Bae just acts, but Rain does both very well.
Rain's reigning power.
During his "Rainy Day" Asian tour, which began in January last year, Rain poured out his charismatic singing and dancing to audiences that have packed concert venues in Japan, Hong Kong and China. Finishing in Taipei on Dec. 30, the concert tour is expected to draw more than 150,000 fans.
Dubbed the "Korean Justin Timberlake," Rain's breathtaking talents were first recognized by the Asian pop scene. The MTV Asian awards in 2005 gave him a grand slam; "Korea's Favorite Artist" in the MTV Asia Aid in Thailand, "Best Buzz in Asia from Korea" at the MTV Video Music Awards in Japan and the "Korean Artist of the Year" award at the MTV-CCTV Mandarin Music Honors.
Rain, 23, became popular as an actor when he played a cool and adorable guy in "Full House," one of the most popular TV series of 2004. He is currently starring in the KBS drama "This Killing Love."
Rain is now ready to take on another challenge which will prove whether he can become a global pop artist outside Asia.
He is to hold his "Rainy Day - New York" concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on Feb. 2, becoming the first Korean singer to enter the American pop market. His producer and mentor Park Jin-young is certain that Rain's U.S. concert will turn out to be a success.
If so, it may send the Korean Wave further across the Pacific Ocean to touch another continent.
(yoonmi@heraldm.com)
credit to: LoveRain of Rain International
posted by Flor at 9:53 PM
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