Rain Joins the South Korean Army

Photograph: Yonhap/AFP/Getty Images

     "Rain" Ji Hoon Jung a South Korean pop star bid farewell to his tearful fans when he entered the military service in Uijeongbu, North of Seoul on October 11, 2011.  

     Compulsory for all South Korean able-bodied men, he is quite old at 29 to be starting his 21-month service in the army.  I hope his popularity in South Korea but also in some other countries will not weaken as time goes by he is out of the public eye. 

     Sporting a military cut hair, he thanked the fans who were gathered outside the Uijeongbu for the 10 years of love.  Some fans flew here from Japan and China just to see him leave. 

     Rain released seven albums, 19 singles and acted in several Korean drama such as "Sand Doo! Let's Go to School", "Full House", "A Love to Kill", and "The Fugitive: Plan B."  He also starred in American films "Speed Racer" (2008) and "Ninja Assassin" (2009).  His last film is "Flight: Close to the Sun."  He is also named by Time Magazine as one of the most influential people of 2011.  

Rain shared this photo in his twitter on Oct. 10 @29rain