S.Korea's pop idol Rain to launch tour of US, Asia

SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea's young pop idol Rain says he will launch a six-month tour which will take the singer/dancer to the United States and 10 other Asian nations late this year.

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Rain, known as Pi in Korean, said he would stage the premiere of his tour at Seoul Olympic's stadium Friday, with his fourth album to be released on the same day.

"I'm very satisfied with what I have done. I feel so good and proud of myself because, first of all, I sang very well," the 24-year-old told a news conference in Seoul, in reference to his new album.

"I can't wait to put it on stage and show it to you."

As to the tour, dubbed "RAIN's Coming," he said more than 35 performances would be staged over six months from December in the United States, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Taiwan.

He sees the tour as a warm-up before he enters the US market.

"Returning more matured after this world tour, I want to go to the US market," he said, adding he wants to become a hotshot on the MTV channel.

Rain styles himself as a rhythm and blues artist but said he was ready to embrace other genres to produce better work.

The South Korean heart-throb, who adores US pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, held two sellout concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City in February.

He was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World this year.

The production crew for his US-Asia tour includes several high-profile figures, including Jamie King who choreographed for Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.