[THE HIGH TIDE OF THE KOREAN WAVE(20)] Rain seeks to make his name in Hollywood



In the last few years, Korean films, TV dramas and pop music have become immensely popular abroad, a phenomenon known as the Korean Wave. This is the 20th in a series of essays by a select group of scholars and journalists looking at the spread of Korean pop culture in Southeast Asian countries and beyond. - Ed.

Until pop star Rain appeared on the U.S. pop music scene at Madison Square Garden in New York City two years ago, Korean entertainers` efforts to reach out beyond Asia were overall failures.
Though the New York Times` reviewer criticized the absence of originality in his music style, many agreed that the "Usher of Korea" showed potential to be the very first successful Korean pop star in the States, both musically and commercially. More than 10,000 fans as well as hundreds of multi-national journalists participated in the two-day performance.
Two years after his U.S. debut, the 25-year-old singer, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, is gearing up for another assault on the world`s biggest entertainment market, but this time as an actor.
Recently, Jung concluded a contract with the William Morris Agency, a New York-based talent agency that represents entertainers such as Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Russell Crowe. He has clinched a leading role in a Hollywood flick titled "Ninja Assassin," which is scheduled to begin shooting later this year. James McTeigue ("V for Vendetta") is planned to direct.
In May, he will make his official Hollywood debut with a supporting role in the Wachowski Brothers` ("The Matrix" trilogy) live-action adaptation of Japanese comic "Speed Racer."
"Acting has always been my first love and has come very naturally to me," said Jung, who launched his acting career with Korean television drama "Full House" in 2004.
"I wish `Speed Racer` to be the box office No. 1, so that I can be the first Korean actor to act in such a film," he added.
Jung began his singing career after releasing his first solo album, "Bad Guy," in 2002, a huge success that was followed by other popular albums.
Since then, he has filled concert halls all over the globe, including those in Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, China and the Philippines.
He launched his acting career when he starred in the South Korean television drama "Full House" in 2004. He played in popular pan-Asian soap operas such as "Sang Doo! Let`s Go to School."
In "Speed Racer" he plays the role of the rookie racer Taejo Togokhan.
He is slated to play a non-Japanese ninja in "Ninja Assassin." (Although as of last week he had not received the script due to the recent strike of the Writers Guild of America.)
The country`s foremost entertainer who was named one of the "100 Most Influential People" by Time Magazine in 2006 and one of the "100 Most Beautiful People" a year later by People Magazine, Jung thinks highly of Korean entertainers` potential to succeed in the U.S. market.
"It didn`t take much time for me to recognize that the Western film industry`s affection for genuinely Asian content is far deeper than I thought," continued Jung.
He debuted on the big screen last year with director Park Chan-wook`s 2007 Berlin International Film Festival entry "I`m a Cyborg, but That`s Okay," in which he plays an inmate of a psychiatric clinic.
Though many Korean singers and actors are among the biggest celebrities in Asia, some of his Korean fans don`t seem to be happy to see him act in such Japan-themed films.
Jung also confessed that he was not able to free himself from the kind of nationalistic dilemma.
"I wish the role I was offered were as a Korean, but hey, it was like a once in a life time thing," Jung said. "I believe somebody has to open this door to Hollywood for other Korean actors, actresses and film directors. I`m proud that I can play this role."
According to him, he has done his best to make his role in "Speed Racer" more Korean-like. Initially, the name of the character he is to play was a typical Japanese one, but it became Taejo at the request of him, he said.
"Once I get the script of `Ninja Assassin,` there will be something I, as a Korean actor, should try to do as well."
Though he is still far better known as the singer named Rain than as Jung Ji-hoon, the actor, his acting has been praised by film producers and critics here.
To him, however, acting in English was as awkward as a right-handed person eating with his left hand, he said.
"I still have difficulties with English, but I`m working on it very intensively, so you may expect to see me act as natural as a native speaker in my future films," said Jung whose favorite film is "Scarface" (1983).
"When I first saw Al Pacino in the film, I, for the first time in my life, thought that I wanted to be like another person," he recalled.
Making his Hollywood debut doesn`t mean that he has decided to stop singing. Recently he recoded a new version of the `70s hit "Kung Fu Fighting" for this summer`s release of Dream Works animation "Kung Fu Panda." He is also scheduled to participate in various musical events related to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"I`m a huge fan of Michael Jackson. I was under his great influence when I was younger, but I dream of fascinating the world with performances as magical and charming as his," he said.
His dance style, according to Jung, combines Michael Jackson`s moonwalk with martial-arts elements, but he always develops his own choreography because he doesn`t want to look like an American singer.
"I have a vision about Korean pop music in the global market. As an actor or a singer, I`d love to help promote the image of Korea through what I`m doing."
It takes both talent and hard work to be successful in the entertainment industry, and of course Jung recognizes it quite well.
When asked to give advice to younger entertainers who dream to be stars, Jung praised discipline and a good work ethic.
"Hard work will give you extra talent someday. Your talent cannot be fully developed if you didn`t work hard," he said.


By Lee Yong-sung

(danlee@heraldm.com)


2008.03.12